Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
LETHBRIDGE, Alta. – Mackenzie Farmer and Mikah Reed both continued their hot-shooting ways, combining for nearly two-thirds of the Griffins' points in an 81-67 loss to the Lethbridge Pronghorns on Saturday night.
With only eight players available to the Griffins for the fourth-straight game due to a recent spate of tough injuries, they pushed hard and were within five points early in the fourth quarter before ultimately running out of gas down the stretch.
With the result, MacEwan is now 2-16, while Lethbridge improves to 7-11.
"We came into the game looking to make a few adjustments and trying to force them to score in different ways," said MacEwan head coach Katherine Adams. "Their two fifth years were outstanding today. I thought we actually defended pretty tough at times, and they just made great plays and made some great shots. I don't know if we could have defended them much better. A credit to them for that for sure.
"Through that battle down the stretch with eight players again, we kind of ran out of steam to continue the momentum and make it a bit closer."
Lethbridge seniors Haily Weaver and Jessica Haenni led the Pronghorns with 27 and 23 points, respectively, while Piper Dobbelsteyn chipped in 11 points and Tobore Okome had 10.
Mackenzie Farmer paced the Griffins with 25 points on 5-for-8 shooting from beyond the arc, adding seven rebounds, three assists and two steals.
With a combined 53 points out of both games on the weekend, Farmer moved into third in all-time scoring at MacEwan with 1,124 career points, trailing only Megan Wood (1,504 from 2012-16) and Michelle Mackinnon (1,267 from 1996-00), who played some or all of their careers in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference.
"Mac was Mac tonight," said Adams. "Again, impressive. To be able to score 25 points on 15 shots is pretty impressive and her efficiency from three. It was another really, really solid weekend in back-to-back performances from her."
Reed scored 18 points, making six three-pointers for a second-straight night.
"We've always known that this is in Mikah's repertoire and in her skill set," said Adams. "It's a huge part of what she brings to the table.
"It's been a learning curve for her knowing when and where and finding her moment. It's been unbelievable seeing her find her rhythm with the confidence to shoot it and have some success. In previous weekends, she's been shooting the right shots, they just haven't gone in. To see her find the bottom of the basket this weekend has been great."
The Griffins will conclude the 2022-23 Canada West season at home against Regina on Feb. 10-11.
