LETHBRIDGE, Alta. – In a matchup of teams looking to write some post-season history, the Lethbridge Pronghorns rode a dominant night on the glass to a 99-60 win over the Manitoba Bisons at the 1st Choice Savings Centre.
Lethbridge out-rebounded Manitoba 68 to 43 in the Friday night game, giving them seven more shots. They also capitalized, shooting 43.2% to the Bisons' 27.2%.
The win in the single-elimination game advances the Pronghorns to the Canada West quarter-finals, while ending the season for the Bisons. It's the first playoff win for Pronghorn women's basketball since 2002. Manitoba was looking for their first playoff round win since 2007.
Seven Pronghorns finished the game in double digits, led by 17 a piece from Kacie Bosch and Amy Mazutinec. Asnate Fomina also had a thorough 14 points, eight assists, and six rebounds in the win.
The Bisons were led by 17 points from Nicole Konieczny and 15 from Taylor Randall. Both struggled with their shot in the loss, though, finishing a combined 11-of-41 from the field.
Though Lethbridge would eventually dominate the first quarter, both teams got off to slow starts. The Pronghorns would miss their first nine shots, while Manitoba would miss their first ten, despite many open looks.
Eventually, Lethbridge found their footing, finishing a 9-0 run at the midway point of the quarter. Later, they'd rattle off a 12-0 run, including a couple jumpers from Fomina, and finished the first frame up 30-10.
Rebounding was a big factor in Lethbridge's hot start, as they grabbed 25 to the Bisons' ten in the opening ten minutes.
In the second, the Bisons picked up their defensive intensity after a Fomina three made it 35-10. Manitoba responded with a 5-0 run, as Konieczny and Randall started to get to the line — part of an 8-for-9 half at the charity stripe.
Unfortunately, they couldn't extend a run, and went into the break down 46-25.
The Pronghorns would essentially ice the game in the third quarter. A run early in the frame pushed the lead to 30 points, as Danielle Fritzke keyed in on a three-pointer to spark the 7-0 spurt. A three from Mazutinec made it 35 points at the 3:31 mark, eliminating much of Manitoba's hope of coming back.
Though the bench would battle in the fourth — including excellent play from Addison Martin, who would finish with 15 points — the Bisons couldn't come back, as the game reached its conclusion.
This is the second straight season that Bison women's basketball has qualified for the post-season after eight years of not doing so. Last year, they also lost in the play-in round to the Alberta Pandas.
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