Justin McCaffrey, Mount Royal Sports Information

CALGARY – On the strength of a 24-point first quarter, the Mount Royal Cougars defeated the Lethbridge Pronghorns 60-65 Thursday night at Kenyon Court.

Angela Driscoll led the Cougars in scoring with 17 points. Kathryn Hankins led all scorers with 21 points for the Pronghorns.

Sporting a very young squad, the Mount Royal Cougars jumped all over the Lethbridge Pronghorns early in their first game of the season.

Cougars forward Becky Nash took the ball inside and scored four straight points to open the game. Nash's inside presence opened up the perimeter and Mount Royal started shooting the lights out from downtown. Drew Knox, Angela Driscoll and Michelle Tiffany all hit from three-point land, vaulting Mount Royal to a 24-10 lead after the first quarter.

Lethbridge made it closer in the second quarter as the Cougars began to make mistakes. Kathryn Hankins capped a 7-0 run late in the quarter, prompting Mount Royal Head Coach Nate McKibbon to call a timeout. Both teams scored 15 points in the second, cutting the Cougars' lead to 39-25 at the half.

Lethbridge chipped away to open the third. Katie Keith got the Pronghorns to within ten points but the Cougars answered right back. Angela Driscoll drove to the basket, made the layup and one. Lethbridge did manage to trim the lead to seven points to close out the quarter. 

Mount Royal's lead fell to as little three points by the middle of the second half. As their outside shooting went cold, Lethbridge began to capitalize. Fifth year Captain Angela Driscoll entered the game and put an end to the comeback. Driscoll, who was second in the conference is steals per game last season, stole the ball on her first series, turned the other way and made the bucket. She then picked off the inbounds pass and layed it in for another two.

Driscoll's ferociousness left the Pronghorns scrambling and unable to get a rhythm offensively. Despite making a late surge, Driscoll and the Cougars were able to hold off the Pronghorns, defeating them 65-60.

For the first time in Canada West history, the Mount Royal women's program is above .500 for the season.  Lethbridge drops to 1-2 after the loss.

The second half of the weekend series will be down in Lethbridge on Saturday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 5pm MST.