LETHBRIDGE, AB – The 7th-ranked UBC Thunderbirds (2-1) crossed the provincial border to take on the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns (2-2) in a rare Thursday night affair. A first-half scoring surge handed the 'Birds a healthy advantage early on, and they didn't look back, walking away with a 51-7 victory.

Sierra Hasse and Sarah MacPherson tallied four of the team's nine total tries throughout the match, while a well-rounded defensive approach limited chances on the other end to seal the blue and gold's second win in three games to start the new campaign.



The T-Birds came out aggressively to start, highlighted by Sierra Hasse scoring in the opening five minutes. The 'Birds slowly worked their way up the field and from there, the third-year back row received a pass out of a ruck and plowed through traffic before finding space for the game's first score. Shortly after, Lana Dueck jumped on a loose ball following a turnover that sent the ball into the try zone to add to her squad's early lead.

Recently named Canada West rugby player of the week, Teniola Epemolu delivered a lengthy run for UBC just five minutes later, putting her squad in tremendous position downfield. After a series of passes, the ball found its way to Mya Koleba, who fought off contact before diving in for the team's third try of the day, handing the 'Birds a 17-0 advantage.



From there, the T-Birds continued press on offence. At the 25th minute, Hasse picked up her second try of the day after fighting through defenders to break the line for the score. While, less than two minutes later, Sarah MacPherson followed suit with a try of her own.

As the break approached, Epemolu charged for yet another long run, but this time, fended off heavy contact to break in for her first score of the day while extending her team's lead to 34-0 heading into halftime.



The 'Birds picked up in the second half where they left off in the first, as Sadie Gluvic and Sara Tehrani each found the try zone by the 53rd minute mark.

Despite the sizable deficit, the Pronghorns weren't going to roll over. In the 69th minute, Lethbridge pieced together a handful of successful runs to reach the five-yard line. They continued to spread the ball around before finding an open Sydney McDonald on the right side who dove in for the home side's first score.

Just as the game approached the final whistle, McPherson capped a wild, 40-yard run from Saylor Pickrell by hauling in an offloading pass to run it in the rest of the way for her second try, sealing a 51-7 win for the 'Birds.

The T-Birds will remain on the road in Alberta for their next matchup as they head to Edmonton to close out their weekend with a battle against the University of Alberta Pandas (1-3) on Sunday, October 4, with kickoff set for 12:00 p.m. PT.

SCORING SUMMARY
  1            2           F
UBC       34       17         51
LET           0          7           7
 
UBC Try - #8 Sierra Hasse (convert #15 Sarah Macpherson) – 7-0 UBC
UBC Try - #10 Lana Dueck (convert missed) – 12-0 UBC
UBC Try - #6 Mya Koleba (convert missed) – 17-0 UBC
UBC Try - #8 Sierra Hasse (convert #15 Sarah MacPherson) – 24-0 UBC
UBC Try - #15 Sarah MacPherson (convert missed) – 29-0 UBC            
UBC Try - #14 Teniola Epemolu (convert missed) – 34-0 UBC
HALF
UBC Try - #7 Sadie Gluvic (convert missed) – 39-0 UBC
UBC Try - #9 Sara Tehrani (convert #15 Sarah MacPherson) – 46-0 UBC
LET Try - #14 Sydney McDonald (convert #10 Jayda Morrison) – 46-7 UBC
UBC Try - #15 Sarah MacPherson (convert missed) – 51-7 UBC