Jason Hills
For MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON — The MacEwan Griffins dug themselves one too many holes against the Lethbridge Pronghorns.
The Griffins fell behind 12-0 to start the game and then fought back to make it just an eight-point deficit at the half, only to allow a 13-0 run early in the third quarter that they couldn't recover from in an 70-44 loss on Saturday at the David Atkinson Gym.
"We ultimately just ran out of gas," said Griffins head coach Katherine Adams.
"The first half wasn't pretty, but I thought we gritted it out, and going into halftime, if you'd said it's an eight-point game, I would've said I'll take it, because it didn't feel like that, but the girls gritted it out and found ways to make plays even though it wasn't the prettiest."
Allie Spenrath led MacEwan with 14 points, six steals and five rebounds, while Unity Obasuyi also had 14 points in the loss for the Griffins.
Lethbridge had four players reach double-digits in points with Courtney McKee leading the way with 20 points, while hitting five three-pointers in the win. Kamryn Deklerk chipped in with 15 points and five rebounds and Tobre Okome had a double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds.
One key turning point came just over a minute into the contest as Griffins forward Sarah Burnell was forced out of the game with an ankle injury and didn't return.
That allowed Lethbridge to use their size advantage on MacEwan, especially in the second half as Okome and Abby Stonehocker wore the Griffins down in the paint.
"Losing Sarah so early really hurt us, just the energy and the inside presence she brings makes a difference, and it forced us to change up our rotation and have others in different roles, and it was a challenge," said Adams.
Unity Obasuyi gets the kiss off the glass to score for the @MacEwanGriffins just before the end of the third quarter.#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/SkOpNJcdqo
— MacEwan Griffins Women's Basketball Team (@Griffins_WBB) January 18, 2025
The short-handed lineup showed a lot of heart to get back in the game in the first half, but the depth and experience from the Pronghorns proved to be too much, and offensively they got shut down, scoring just 16 points in the second half.
"We've got two of our biggest players in Sarah and Sam (Hickey) out, and you lose some size, and you have to find some ways to do some things with who you have in there," said Adams.
"The effort was there, but when you're 5-foot-8 and they're six-feet, it makes it tough. Tobore is a real presence in the paint and she made it tough on us."
One player that really stood out on both ends of the floor with increased minutes was Sofia Makinen, who played over 36 minutes - a career-high - chipping in with seven points, seven rebounds and four steals.
"I thought she was a big reason why we were tough and gritty. She willed us to get us back in that first half, and that's what we know of her and it's great to see that come to light," said Adams.
Sofia Makinen wouldn't be denied!
— MacEwan Griffins Women's Basketball Team (@Griffins_WBB) January 18, 2025
She's up to seven points for the @MacEwanGriffins through 20 minutes at the David Atkinson Gym.#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/5brtFaFcGy
Makinen has seen her role increase over the last couple weeks playing over 30 minutes in the last three games, and she's contributing in all areas she can.
"I just try to do whatever the team needs for us to be successful. Whether that means I'm playing the 5 or the 1, or anywhere in between, I'll do it," said Makinen
"We really battled hard today. We had lots of people on the floor crashing the glass and getting looks, we just couldn't convert enough and get the stops we needed.
"When we competed so hard yesterday and made it a close game, it's disappointing for us to let go of it today. In the second half, the game got away from us."
MacEwan will travel to Abbotsford next weekend to face the University of Fraser Valley Cascades.
