Lethbridge, ALTA. – The University of Calgary Dinos women's basketball team opened their Canada West season with an 80–70 win over the Lethbridge Pronghorns on Friday night at the Co-op Centre for Sport & Wellness.

Calgary overcame a slow start that saw them go just 1-8 from behind the arc in the first 20 minutes to grind out the opening win.

The win moves Calgary to 1-0 in conference play and is the first Canada West win for first-year head coach Sarah Besselink.

Second-year guard Christine Geraldo made the most of a spot in the starting rotation and finished with a team-high 21 points, with 11 coming in a big third quarter.

Pollyanna Storie and Lilia Skumatova each finished with 13 points on the night, while Kourtney Oss added 11 points to go with four rebounds and three blocks.

The Dinos came out strong, with Sydney Milum scoring the game's first basket off a steal from Storie. The teams traded baskets through a back-and-forth first half, highlighted by rookie Halle Alleman's first Canada West three-pointer for the Pronghorns and a tough finish from Skumatova to give Calgary a 15–13 lead after the first quarter.

Lethbridge briefly took control in the second behind Courtney McKee's strong play, but Storie's scoring burst helped Calgary reclaim a 33–30 lead at halftime. The Dinos extended their lead in the third quarter as Geraldo converted three free throws and added a three-pointer to push the margin to nine, before Alleman's buzzer-beater kept the Pronghorns within seven heading into the fourth.

Lethbridge rallied late to take a 64–63 lead, but Calgary responded quickly. Geraldo grabbed an offensive rebound and set up Oss for a three-point play to put the Dinos back on top. Milica Gajic then buried a clutch three to seal the win, as the Dinos closed the game on a strong note to secure the 80–70 victory.

The two teams are right back at it on Saturday, with tip-off set for 5 p.m.

-UC-