CALGARY – The University of Calgary Dinos women's basketball team caught fire from beyond the arc on Saturday, making 11 three-pointers to hand the previously unbeaten Mount Royal University Cougars their first loss of the season, 66-58, at Kenyon Court.
Kourtney Oss led the way with 14 points, 14 rebounds, eight assists and four blocks in 33 minutes.
Raya Hafez came off the bench to match her 14 points, going 4-of-5 from beyond the arc.
Lilia Skumatova added 11 points, including three three-pointers. The win is the first of the season for the defending Canada West champions and improves their record to 1-3.
Mount Royal took a brief lead late in the first quarter on a Presley Hopf three, but it was the Cougars' last. Skumatova answered with a three of her own, and after Alexis Evans tied it 13-13,
Saavyn Kaur Mann hit a jumper and Hafez made a three in the closing seconds to give Calgary an 18-13 lead after one.
The Cougars opened the second on a 5-0 run, with Elise Carline scoring on back-to-back layups to tie it 18-18.
Christine Geraldo put the Dinos back in front with a three, and Calgary did not trail or give up a tie the rest of the way. Late in the half, Hafez and Kaur Mann hit back-to-back threes to push the lead to 32-22. Hope Dunkley then scored the last five points of the half to pull Mount Royal within 32-27 at the break.
Calgary took control in the third, outscoring the Cougars 21-15. Oss scored the last four points of the quarter, including a jumper in the final seconds, for a 53-42 lead.
Geraldo opened the Dinos' scoring in the fourth with another three, and Oss followed with a jumper and a free throw to stretch the lead to a game-high 15 points at 59-44. Mount Royal made a late push, scoring seven straight points in the final two minutes to get within 65-58, but Oss sank a free throw in the final minute to seal it.
Calgary went 11-of-26 from three-point range, a sharp turnaround from Friday's 61-42 loss to the Cougars, when the Dinos made three of their 21 attempts from deep.
Asha Donnelly, Dunkley and Temi Ajayi each scored 10 points for the Cougars, and Ajayi added four blocks. Evans finished with eight points and 11 rebounds.
The teams split the weekend series, and Mount Royal falls to 3-1 with the loss.
The Dinos will return to action Friday, Nov. 20 when they host the Brandon University Bobcats at 6 p.m. at Jack Simpson Gym. Tickets are available at GoDinos.com/Tickets.
Mount Royal will host the University of Victoria Vikes on Friday, Nov. 13.
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