BOX SCORE CALGARY – Thanks to a dominant 30-point effort in the fourth quarter, the No. 8 University of Calgary Dinos improved to 7-0 on the season with an 82-72 victory over the Mount Royal University Cougars Friday night in the Jack Simpson Gym.

After holding a three-point lead at the half, the Dinos found themselves trailing by four heading into the final 10 minutes after putting up just 11 points in the third. That edge went up to seven points with an early trey by the Cougars in the fourth – but the Dinos tied it up with seven minutes to play and outscored the Cougars 30-16 in the final 10 minutes to win the first-ever regular season meeting between the two schools. It also helped the Dinos get over the top in the inaugural Crowchild Classic series, which the University of Calgary clinched Friday night with three wins in as many contests over the Cougars in women's basketball, men's hockey, and women's hockey.

Jessica Franz scored 10 of her 24 points in the fourth quarter while Erika Romanow hit a couple of clutch threes in the final frame to help the Dinos seal the victory. But despite the win, Dinos head coach Damian Jennings was frustrated with his team's effort, playing without injured point guard Kristie Sheils.

“"Mount Royal played a wonderful game tonight, and we simply did not respond with the style of play we have been working toward,” said Jennings. “I have no doubt we will be better tomorrow as this team is very proud of what it works hard for.”

The Cougars led 21-20 after a sloppily-played opening quarter on both sides, but the Dinos managed to erase the lead in the second and take a 41-38 edge into halftime. In all, the game featured 16 lead changes – seven of those in the third quarter – and eight tie scores.

Franz' fellow fifth-year player Megan Schaufele added 14 points for the Dinos, while Romanow picked up 11. Tamara Jarrett added eight points. Franz and Schaufele were also the Dinos' leading rebounders on the night with 12 and eight, respectively.

The Cougars were led by a 20-point performance from Emily Larson, while Danica Rybachuk and Annalise Posein chipped in with 13 apiece. Posein's night was particularly impressive, shooting 6-for-7 from the field for 13 points and six rebounds – all in just 14 minutes on the floor.

With the win, Calgary maintains its lead atop the Prairie Division standings undefeated at 7-0, while Mount Royal falls to 1-6 in its first season of Canada West competition.

The Dinos wrap up the weekend Saturday when they play host to the UNBC Timberwolves in the Jack Simpson Gym, while the Cougars head to Lethbridge for a date with the Pronghorns Saturday.

-UC-