CALGARY – The University of Calgary Dinos will go head to head with their provincial rivals, the University of Alberta Pandas, this week. The first of the home-and-home series will tip-off at 6 p.m. on Thursday at the Jack Simpson Gym, followed by Saturday at 5 p.m. at the Saville Community Sports Centre.

SCORING THREATS
The Dinos are coming off an action-packed Week 1, in which their young team showed some promising scoring talent. Fourth-year guard/forward Erin McIntosh is coming off an impressive 20-point performance in her regular season debut. The next night, fourth-year guard Sascha Lichtenwald took the reins with 19 points on 50 per cent field goal shooting. The Dinos will look for these two on-court leaders to continue their offensive dominance against the Pandas.

TOUGH COMPETITION
Alberta has claimed the top ranking in Canada West women's basketball after one week of action. Though it's early in the season and standings don't hold much value at this point, the Dinos are still going to have to bring their A-game in the annual Pack the Jack showdown. Despite Alberta's early edge this season, the Dinos finished last season with a higher playoff and regular season ranking and will look to extend that dominance into Thursday.

QUOTABLE
Head coach Damian Jennings is very excited about the experience that this young Dinos team has already received and will take with them into Week 2 against a good-looking Pandas team, following a tight fourth quarter in their season opener against the Cougars.

"It's a good opportunity for the young group that we have to get used to that stage where someone needs to step up." - Coach Jennings on fourth quarter vs Regina on opening night

SCOUTING REPORT
vs UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA PANDAS
Game Info    Thursday, Nov. 1 at 6 p.m. – Jack Simpson Gym and Saturday, Nov. 3 at 5 p.m. – Saville Community Sports Centre
2018 Record 2-0-0, 1st in Canada West
2018 Leading Scorer(s) Emma Kary (16 ppg)

NOTES

• The Pandas currently rank first in the Canada West standings
• The Pandas are tied with 6 other teams for the best record in the Canada West at 2-0
• The Pandas are ranked first in the league for offense and defense after 2 games this season
• With the worst free throw percentage in Canada West at .526, the Pandas percentage is more than 20 per cent worse than the Dinos'
• The Dinos and the Pandas are neck and neck in team scoring, with the Pandas leading by two points per game this season

UP NEXT
Following this home-and-home matchup against the Pandas, the Dinos will face the Saskatchewan Huskies in back to back games next week. The first game will be on Friday at 6 p.m. in the Jack Simpson Gym, followed by a game at 5 p.m. on Saturday at the Jack Simpson Gym.

-UC-