The University of Alberta Pandas took down one of the only two remaining undefeated Canada West teams on Saturday night, going on a 13-0 run in the opening quarter to take the lead for good and holding off Regina for a 70-63 win at the Saville Centre in Edmonton.
 
The loss drops the U of R's record to 5-1 as the Cougars fall from second to fourth in the Pioneer Division standings though they have two games in hand on Alberta and Calgary, who are now tied for second in the division at 7-1. The Cougars will make up those two games this weekend against Winnipeg (1-5).
 
The Cougars went over five minutes in the first-quarter run without a field goal, allowing Alberta to turn a four-point Regina lead into an 11-point advantage for the Pandas. Alberta pushed the lead up to 12 points at various times throughout the third quarter, but the Cougars chipped away and though they held the Pandas to only two field goals in the final 10 minutes could get no closer than two points. That came with three minutes left when a layup by Sidney Dobner made the score 62-60, but those would be the final points of the game for the U of R and Alberta hit all six of its free throw attempts in the final two and a half minutes to seal the win.
 
Jessilyn Fairbanks had 23 points for Alberta in the win and also led the Pandas with seven rebounds. Megan Wickstrom had 17 points, with Maddie Rogers adding 10.
 
Charlotte Kot led the Cougars in scoring for the second consecutive night, ending up with 16 points. Dobner added 15 points and four assists, while Alyssi Kajati had 11 points and tied Christina McCusker for the team lead with seven rebounds.
 
The Cougars play host to Winnipeg this Friday and Saturday at the Centre for Kinesiology, Health & Sport. Tip-off for both games is scheduled for 6 p.m.