EDMONTON – Forwards Reece Hall and Jenna Karach combined for 34 points, leading Alberta to a 64-46 win over the Winnipeg Wesmen.
 
The duo of stretch forwards added a combined 13 rebounds, making 13 of their 21 shots in the win. Hall also added four assists for a Pandas team that controlled Friday's game from the opening tip. Alberta held a 13-point lead at the half, extending it to as many as 20 in the fourth quarter.
 
Hall's 18 points also sets a new career high, surpassing her previous mark of 12. The win for the Pandas is their fifth (5-2), while the loss drops Winnipeg to 4-2.
 
Jasia Hayden led Winnipeg with 10 points, with Sadie McMllan-Stowards adding eight.
 
The Wesmen received a first-hand look at the Pandas stingy defence, who hold opponents to a conference-best 29% shooting percentage, themselves just making 28% of their shots on Friday. Winnipeg also didn't help their chances by committing 27 turnovers, forced by 15 Pandas steals.
 
10 of those turnovers came in the first quarter, which saw Alberta jump ahead 19-11. Hall led the Pandas with nine early points, who added three blocks in easily her best game as a Panda.
 
Karach heated up in the second quarter, helping extend Alberta's lead to 13 at the half. Karach led both teams with 12 points through two quarters. Needing some makes to cut into the deficit, the Wesmen struggled with open looks from beyond the arc, finishing the game with a 3/16 line from three.
 
The Wesmen were considerably better in the third quarter, but were unable to cut into the Alberta lead. Every Winnipeg shot was matched by a Panda make, who added four free throws in the third to maintain their double-digit lead.
 
Alberta iced the game quickly in the fourth, extending their lead past comeback territory.
 
The two teams will meet again tomorrow night in the final conference game before the winter break.