CALGARY – The University of Calgary Dinos women's basketball team didn't miss a beat Friday night against the University of Lethbridge, delivering a hard-fought battle at the Jack Simpson Gym with an 80-72 win.

The W is the 10th in a row for the Dinos, who now move to 14-3 on the year, holding strong for third place in the Canada West Prairie Division and just one game back of a tie for first place.

Meanwhile, the loss drops Lethbridge to 8-9 on the year and in sixth place in the division with three games to play.

The Dinos and the Pronghorns opened up the match with a tightly contested first quarter. Lethbridge struck first, with Kyra Collier scoring an early layup and three-pointer to give the Pronghorns a quick advantage. However, Pollyanna Storie made a key defensive play for Calgary, picking up a steal that led to a fast-break opportunity. On the other end, Abby Stonehocker provided solid rebounding for the Pronghorns, pulling down multiple defensive boards to limit second-chance opportunities for the Dinos. Towards the end of the quarter, Calgary found their rhythm from beyond the arc. Amélie Collin drilled a three-pointer with just one second remaining, tying the game at 21 apiece. Her clutch shot, assisted by Milica Gajic, ensured the Dinos kept pace with the Pronghorns heading into the second frame.

The teams continued their back-and-forth battle, with Emma Yarwood getting behind Lethbridge's defence and securing a couple of baskets. Calgary then took the lead as Myriam Kone knocked down a three-pointer, putting the Dinos up 43-40 with 31 seconds left. Lethbridge answered immediately, with Courtney McKee sinking a three-pointer to tie the game at 43-43 just before halftime. 

Both teams displayed strong defensive efforts, with Kone leading the charge for Calgary with a career-high seven steals, while Lethbridge's Tobore Okome and McKee controlled the boards and found key scoring opportunities. Lethbridge's backcourt was particularly effective, picking apart Calgary's defence and securing 24 rebounds compared to the Dinos' 18. Lethbridge finished the half with a 47.4% field goal percentage, while Calgary held the edge from beyond the arc, shooting 38.9% from three compared to Lethbridge's 30.8%.

Coming out of halftime, the defensive intensity ramped up. Gajic made an immediate impact, grabbing steals and finishing a layup to help extend Calgary's lead. Kourtney Oss stepped up in key moments, going on a 9-1 run of her own late in the frame that was capped by a three-pointer with 2:06 left in the quarter to put the Dinos ahead and helping establish a six-point lead after three.

Team captain Mya Proctor took over in the fourth quarter, making smart plays on both ends of the court. Oss added to her stellar night with multiple steals, while Kone dominated the defensive glass, limiting Lethbridge's second-chance opportunities. Turnovers became a deciding factor, with Calgary hauling in an incredible 20 steals on 25 UofL turnovers, while the Dinos turned the ball over just 10 times in this one. The Dinos capitalized, converting those mistakes into fast-break points to seal the win.

Proctor - who finished the night with a team-high 17 points - emphasized the importance of staying locked in throughout the game. "It's my job to make sure we're focused and ready to go," she said postgame. "We need to focus on what we can control and build from there."

The two teams return to the Jack Saturday for a 4:00 pm rematch, with the Dinos' "Seniors' Day" recognition immediately following the game.

-UC-