Files from U of A Sports Information
EDMONTON - Emily Bolduc scored a career high 27-points to lead the No.8 ranked University of Alberta Pandas to an 80-78 game three and series win over the No.10 ranked UBC Thunderbirds, Sunday afternoon at the U of A's Main Gym.
The win gave Alberta a 2-1 series victory and moves them on to the Canada West Final Four, to be hosted by the No.1 ranked and defending champion Simon Fraser Clan next weekend. For the T-Birds, their season ends for the second straight year one series win from a berth in the CW Final Four.
Bolduc picked a good time to have the best offensive night of her four-year career after the Pandas won the opening game, but gassed the rebound match, giving UBC momentum heading into the series deciding game. The Calgary native poured in 27-points, six better than her previous career high, helping the Pandas stay on course for a national championship berth.
The T-Birds certainly didn't make it easy on the home side, opening up with a slim 19-17 lead after the first quarter.
Alberta roared to life during the second, putting the boots to the Birds to the tune of a 30-13 advantage and a 47-32 lead into the half.
The Pandas got big first half stats from rookie Kendra Asleson and sophomore guard Kaitlyn Arbuthnot. Asleson was near perfection scoring 15 first half points, shooting 5-5 from the field and 4-4 from the free-throw line. She also added a pair of rebounds, while Arbuthnot chipped in five assists and two steals during the opening half.
After owning leads of 15-points in the second and third quarters, Alberta looked like they were cruising to a win, but like they did during their game two win, UBC stormed back to make things interesting.
The T-Birds, led by
Devan Lisson and
Alex Vieweg, out-scored Alberta 23-17 in the third, changing a 15-point deficit to a nine point gap heading into the fourth.
UBC then rolled off a 6-0 run early in the fourth, drawing to 64-61, but the Pandas were always able to do just enough to stay ahead, despite being outplayed.
Back-to-back buckets by Arbuthnot increased the Alberta advantage to 70-61, but
Lia St. Pierre picked up a deuce, sparking another 6-0 run by the Birds to make the score 70-67.
The teams continued to trade buckets with UBC inching closer every time, but, Bolduc hit massive bucket late, knifing to the hoop for a lay-up with under a minute to go, leaving the Thunderbirds in desperation mode. UBC clawed their way back in late, however, Vieweg missed a three-pointer with less than 10 seconds left and UBC didn't get another chance as the Pandas left as Alberta hung on for the two-point win.
The Thunderbirds had four players hit double-digit scoring, including two players, Huntley and St.Pierre, with 17.
Candace Morisset added 15 points, while Vieweg added 10 and five boards.
Outside of Bolduc's 27, Asleson tied her career high of 18-points, while Marisa Haylett chipped in with 12, and Arbuthnot banked 11 for Alberta.
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