VANCOUVER – The top-ranked and defending CIS champion Lethbridge Prognhorns handled the No. 9 UBC Thunderbirds 48-7 in their season opener on Sunday afternoon at Thunderbird Park.

The Thunderbirds (0-1) learned there are still strides to be made after finishing fifth at last year's CIS championship as No. 1 Lethbridge (2-0) once again asserted their dominance in the Canada West.

The 'Horns got on the board first in the seventh minute when runs by Kendra Reeves and Tiffany Wideen led to national team member Brandy van Eeuwen crossing the line. Lethbridge added to their lead in the 12th minute when Kendra Gavelin scored the first of her three tries on the day to push the to 14-0 for the visitors.

UBC cut the deficit in half in the 23rd minute when some hard work in the trenches by the T-Birds' front line got Darcy Patterson over the line and with a convert by Patterson the score was 14-7.

The Pronghorns took advantage of good field position resulting from UBC penalties in the later stages of the first-half. Reeves and flanker Kelsey Willoughby each scored tries as Lethbridge took a 26-7 lead into the break.

UBC head coach Lesley McKenzie thought that the score line flattered the visitors.

"They're a good team but we caused a lot of our own misery today. We have a bit of work to do but we have identified some key things moving forward," said McKenzie.

The 'Birds did their best to hold the Pronghorns' persistent attack at bay but their precision passes and relentless runs continuously had T-Bird tacklers on their heels.

The defending champions continued to capitalize on short fields as second-half tries by Shannon Court, Nicole van Eck and two by Gavelin put the game out of reach.

UBC will look for their first win of the season next weekend when they host Alberta. Meanwhile the Pronghorns have a bye week before returning to action October 15 at Calgary.

Scoring Summary:

7:00 LETH Van Eeuwen try (Murphy-Burke convert) 7-0
12:00 LETH Gavelin try (Murphy-Burke convert) 14-0
23:00 UBC Patterson try (Patterson convert) 14-7
30:00 LETH Willoughby try (Murphy-Burke NO convert) 19-7
40:00 LETH Reeves try (Murphy-Burke convert) 26-7

42:00 LETH Court try (Murphy-Burke NO convert) 31-7
63:00 LETH Gavelin try (Murphy-Burke convert) 38-7
69:00 LETH Gavelin try (Murphy-Burke NO convert) 43-7
74:00 LETH Van Eck try (Murphy-Burke NO convert) 48-7