EDMONTON - Facing their provincial rivals in their last regular season game of the year, the University of Alberta Pandas basketball team closed off the 2008-09 campaign in strong fashion, beating the Calgary Dinos 84-60.
BOX SCORE
Saturday night's win comes on the heels of Alberta's 83-53 win Friday night, giving the Pandas the weekend sweep and a 16-6 record on the season. Calgary closes out the regular season with an 8-14 mark but will return to the Main Gym next weekend for the opening round of the central division playoffs.
The Pandas and Dinos will face-off in a best-of-three series starting Friday night (6 p.m. MT), with the winner advancing to face the 18-4 and No. 3 ranked Saskatchewan Huskies for the division championship and a berth into the Canada West Final Four.
For those reasons and four more, the wins before the hometown crowd in Edmonton, were very important this weekend.
Not only did Alberta send a message to the Dinos for next weekend's win-or-go-home playoff scenario, but they also won the games for their four graduating players.
Ashley Wigg, Kristin Jarock, Katie Barrett and Melanie Schlichter will all be moving on from the Pandas' program at the end of the CIS season.
Wigg, the Pandas leading scorer this season and Canada West leader in steals, had a powerful night finishing with 16 points, six assists and six steals. Last night, the fifth year Calgary native scored 12 points, 12 assists and three steals, and she is also third in the conference in assists.
It was Alberta's defence that was the difference Saturday night, as they forced Calgary, comprised of six rookies, into 39 turnovers, while recording 20 steals.
The Panda pressure resulted in Calgary being out-matched in ball possession and offensive looks; Alberta shot 71 attempts from the field, connecting on 31 of them, while the Dinos took just 44 and hit 16.
Alberta's long game, a bit of a sore spot all season long, was much better as well, as they hit five of 13 shots while Calgary sunk one of 12.
Third year guard Marisa Haylett came off the Alberta bench to lead the Pandas in scoring, knocking back two three-pointers in the first half, en route to a game high 18 points.
Rookie Nicole Clarke had 12 points and Jarock had 11. Schlichter collected four rebounds to lead the Pandas under the glass.
Ashley Hill, a third year forward from Airdrie, AB, topped all Dinos in scoring, notching 14 points, while graduating player Courtney Coyle had 13 points and six boards. Whitney Haswell had seven boards and points.
The best-of-three series begins Friday, February 13, as the Dinos return to Edmonton; tip-off is 6 p.m. MT
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