UNews - Erin Skippon

Horns basketball opens Canada West campaign

trevor.kenney — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 21:41:48 +0000

The Mike Hansen era begins this weekend for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns men's basketball program.

The ‘Horns will open the 2013-14 conference schedule on the road against the Fraser Valley Cascades and Trinity Western Spartans.

Tip-offs for the weekend are set at 8 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday night respectively, with both games streamed online at http://canadawest.tv.

In addition to the leadership change, the roster received a complete overhaul with only five players from last season’s roster returning. A quartet of guards and reserve post remain with the program and will be led by seniors Morgan Duce, Logan Reiter and Alex Fletcher.

Reiter and Duce both averaged double digit points per game last season and will be counted on heavily to increase their scoring totals after the departure of the top two scorers from last season in Derek Waldner and Julian Spear Chief-Morris.

Among the nine newcomers to the program, Australian Brandon Brine, as well as ACAC all-stars Rob Olsen and Jared Baker, are expected to make a significant impact in their first season with the program. Post Brent Watkins could be a wildcard contributor for the Horns after transferring from Citrus College in California. Watkins, who did not play high school basketball, comes to the Horns with raw talent and will be relied on to be a presence in the paint. In his second season with Citrus last year, Watkins averaged 9.2 points and 7 rebounds per game while hitting nearly 75% of his shots from the field.

For a full weekend preview, visit gohorns.ca.

Pronghorn Women

Despite missing the playoffs for the third season in a row, there were a lot of positives to take away from the 2012-13 season.

In her first season at the helm of the Pronghorns women’s basketball program, Erin McAleenan led the Horns to their first double digit win total since the 1994-95 season, but a duplication of the 2012-13 season will be a tough task for the Pronghorns in the always tough Canada West conference.

The Horns will open the 2013-14 conference schedule this weekend on the road traveling to British Columbia to face the Fraser Valley Cascades and Trinity Western Spartans.

Gone from last season are post Erin Skippon, forward Steph Inman and utility guard Kara Henry. While Skippon was only with the program for one season, her leadership and post presence will be dearly missed.

While the voids left will be hard to fill, the Pronghorns return their top two scorers from last season in Ali Cameron and post Kim Veldman. Cameron, a pure scorer, returns for her fourth season and will look to build off her career best 15 points per game average last season.

Veldman, who averaged nearly a double-double last season, will be leaned on heavily at both ends of the floor, while senior guard Katlyn Olsen will also be counted on to help lead the young squad. With six true freshmen cracking the Pronghorns roster, there will be some growing pains along the way.

Southern Alberta product Mariah Miller has had a nice start to her collegiate career, recording a double-double in only her third preseason game.

Guards Erin James, Sara Simovic and Kendra Lee will all see significant time as freshmen and will need to make significant contributions if the Horns are going to duplicate last season’s record.

Tip-off for Friday’s game versus the Cascades is set for 6 p.m. PST, while Saturday’s game versus the Spartans will go at 5 p.m.. Both games will be streamed live on http://canadawest.tv

For more, visit gohorns.ca.

Waldner, Skippon athletes of the week

trevor.kenney — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 22:15:11 +0000

With his Pronghorn career winding down, fifth-year post Derek Waldner is playing some of the best basketball of his career.

Thanks to a pair of dominating efforts over the weekend, Waldner joined Erin Skippon of the Horns women's basketball program as Subway Pronghorn Athletes of the Week.

This past weekend, Waldner recorded his eighth consecutive double-double performance (double figures in both points and rebounds) and etched his name in the Pronghorn record book as he led the Horns men's basketball team to a pair of Canada West victories over the Brandon ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Bobcats.

Saturday night, late in the opening quarter, Waldner recorded his 813th career rebound to become the school's all-time leader in that category. Waldner finished the night with 18 points and 20 rebounds. He also now sits fifth on the Canada West all-time rebounding list.

During Friday night's victory over Brandon, Waldner led all Pronghorn scorers with 25 points on 11-of-19 shooting and recorded his seventh consecutive double-double with 14 rebounds.

Waldner leads the conference in rebounding this season, averaging 11.5 per game, and he sits 12th in scoring with 17 points per game.

Fifth-year post Erin Skippon continued her solid play for the Pronghorns women's team, leading the club to its second consecutive weekend sweep and a season high five straight wins.

Friday night, Skippon led all scorers with 18 points as the 'Horns upended the Brandon Bobcats 62-42. She was also one rebound shy of a double-double and added three steals and an assist in the win. In the series sweeping win Saturday night, she scored another 13 points and recorded seven rebounds.

With four games remaining in the conference schedule, Skippon sits 21st in conference scoring, averaging 11.7 points and is 17th in rebounding with 6.1 boards a night.

Basketball nets weekly awards

trevor.kenney — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 21:35:21 +0000

Basketball players Erin Skippon and Julian Spear Chief-Morris were recognized with Subway Pronghorn Athlete of the Week awards following their strong weekend performances against the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Saskatchewan Huskies.

Skippon is a fifth-year transfer from Queen's ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ who has been a huge reason why the Horns women's basketbal team has opened with a strong 3-1 start to the Canada West season.

During the 'Horns 67-61 win over the nationally ranked Huskies, Skippon led all scorers with 20 points and narrowly missed out on her first double-double in a Pronghorn jersey, grabbing eight rebounds. A post player, Skippon has provided the 'Horns with exceptional leadership and helped with the team's transition to a new system under new head coach Erin McAleenan.

Through two weekends of the conference schedule, Skippon is averaging 11.5 points per game and just under six rebounds a night.

On the men's side, Spear Chief-Morris, a senior forward, has played a prominent role in the 'Horns 3-1 start to the season, even though he has been asked to learn a new position in his final year of eligibility.

The natural guard has made a seamless transition to a forward position and combined to score 38 points in the 'Horns weekend split with the nation's seventh-ranked Huskies.

Friday night, Spear Chief-Morris led the 'Horns in scoring with 23 points in a 98-89 loss. The next night, he scored 15 points, while adding six rebounds and two assists in the 'Horns 99-87 win.

On the season, Spear Chief-Morris is second on the 'Horns in scoring, averaging 14.5 points per game.

UNews - Erin Skippon

Horns basketball opens Canada West campaign

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