Edmonton, Alta. – The #6 University of Victoria women's basketball team fought to the very end, but ultimately came up just short in an 84-82 play-in round loss to the #11 University of Lethbridge, Feb. 21 at the Saville Community Sports Centre.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pronghorns hold first half lead

• The Pronghorns held the lead for the entirety of the first half. Scoring the first points of the game, Lethbridge went on to take an 11-2 lead over the first four minutes of play.
• Two-straight layups from Mimi Sigue and a pair of free throws by Bella Graves pulled the Vikes back within three, 13-10, with 2:35 still on the clock in the first.
• Lethbridge put six points on the board to Sigue's layup for the Vikes to hold a 19-12 lead at the end of the first.
• Though the Pronghorns extended their lead to 12, 34-22 over the first half of the second, a quick 9-2 Vikes run on Tegan Michel and Karis de Paiva layups, a Meike Boerstra jumper and a de Paiva three brought Victoria back within five, 36-31, with 2:09 until halftime.
• Layups from Sigue and Makena Anderson matched the two scores by the Pronghorns in the final minutes, bringing the halftime score to 42-35 in favour of Lethbridge.

Vikes make comeback push in second half

• The Pronghorns' lead reached 10, 51-41, over the first four minutes of the third quarter, but a Sigue layup followed by a Boerstra jumper brought it back to a five-point game, 55-50, with 3:11 to go.
• Another Vikes run consisting of an Anderson layup, Graves free throw, and Natalie Allison three pulled the Vikes within two, 60-58, with one minute to go in the third.
• Lethbridge put the final basket of the frame on the board to take a 62-58 lead into the final quarter.
• The Vikes opened the fourth with a three-pointer from de Paiva, making it a one-point game, 62-61.
• Jenna Talib's jumper at the 7:49 mark tied the game, 63-63. Though it was met by a Lethbridge bucket, Talib knocked down two free throws in the Vikes' next possession to once again tie the game, 65-65, with 7:11 remaining.
• The Pronghorns' lead reached 10 over the next four and half minutes of play, 81-71, with two and half minutes still to play.
• An offensive spark for the Vikes from a Sigue jumper and free throw, de Paiva jumper, another Sigue free throw, and a Talib jumper pulled the Vikes within two, 81-79, with 40 seconds still on the clock.
• Three free throws from Lethbridge put the 'Horns back up by five, 84-79, in the final seconds. Though de Paiva hit a three at the buzzer, the Vikes did not have time for another play and fell to the Pronghorns, 84-82.

WORTH NOTING

• Mimi Sigue's career-high 25 points led the Vikes. She nearly completed the double-double effort with a team-high nine rebounds, also adding two assists and two steals for Victoria.
• Karis de Paiva set a new career high with 18 points against the Pronghorns, also contributing five rebounds, one assist, and one steal.
• Jenna Talib rounded out the double-digit scorers for the Vikes, matching her season-high with 10.
• Meike Boerstra tied her season-high with eight points. Makena Anderson led the Vikes in steals and assists with five in each category.
• The Vikes have been shorthanded in all three matchups against the Pronghorns this season, going 0-3 in those games.
• Victoria closes the 2024-25 season with a 12-9 overall record.