Jefferson Hagen, MacEwan Athletics

-With files from Alberta Athletics

EDMONTON – Down 17-0, the MacEwan Griffins didn't hit a shot until Saturday's visit to cross-town rival Alberta was 5:34 old.

By half-time it was 50-14.

The Griffins couldn't find a shovel big enough to dig themselves out of that hole as they fell 85-46 to the Pandas in Canada West women's basketball action at the Saville Centre.

In a disturbing trend that continues for the Griffins, they were forced to try to battle out of a double-digit first-quarter deficit for the seventh time in 14 games this season. The loss also marked the seventh time this season the Griffins trailed in a game from wire to wire, never leading once.

It all adds up to a result that drops MacEwan's record to 2-12, while Alberta improves to 12-2.

"We had a couple of good scoring opportunities early that we didn't convert and then our transition let us down a little bit and led to some easy scores for Alberta," lamented MacEwan head coach Katherine Adams.

"It kind of set the tone early for us that we missed easy ones and gave them easy ones. Next thing you know you're down 15 and trying to dig yourself out of a hole."

Turnovers were a big part of the story again. Two nights after turning the ball over 30 times in a 74-55 loss to Alberta in the David Atkinson Gym, the Griffins committed 32 turnovers on Saturday.

"We know every turnover is one more possession for them and one more missed opportunity for us to convert and put points on the board," said Adams.

Megan Tywoniuk led the Pandas with 14 points, while Claire Signatovich had 12.

Farmer led the Griffins with 11 points, while Drew Knox hit double digits for the second-straight game with 10.

Ultimately, the Griffins aren't without disappointment, but they'll chalk it up to another learning experience.

"Obviously the first half is one that we want to quickly forget, but there were some really, really good learning opportunities for us," said Adams. "We're trying to take every moment and grow from it. It's not a lot of fun sometimes, but we have to find areas under our control to grow and learn and build upon."

Alberta heads to Langley, B.C. next weekend to face off against the Trinity Western Spartans while the MacEwan Griffins head back across the North Saskatchewan River to host the UBC Thunderbirds on Friday (6 p.m.) and Saturday (5 p.m., both David Atkinson Gym, Canada West TV presented by Co-op).