VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds skated to their 11th straight victory while securing top-seed in the Canada West for a second consecutive season as they bested the Alberta Pandas by a 3-1 score Saturday afternoon at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre.

Third year T-Bird Grace Elliott shined in the victory, potting two goals on an afternoon that saw the home team honour graduating seniors Rylind Mackinnon, Reese Hiddleston and Joelle Fiala.

UBC (22-1-3) scored the game's first goal 12:37 into the contest. Jacquelyn Fleming caused a turnover on her own side of centre and sped towards the Pandas' goal before feeding a perfect off-the-rush pass to Cassidy Rhodes who tucked a backhand past Alberta goalie Halle Oswald for her 11th of the season.

Saturday's grudge match closely mirrored Friday night's matchup between the top two teams in the conference. UBC again held a 1-0 lead after the first period but struggled in the second frame. Alberta (19-3-4) killed an early second period penalty and evened the score when Pandas defender Sara Keizeil stepped out of the box and onto a 2-on-0 rush with Izzy Lajoie. Lajoie would finish off the passing play with her eighth goal of the season.

Just under a minute into the third period, Elliott would take the puck into the slot and snipe a top-shelf goal past Oswald to give her team the 2-1 lead. Elliott would later tally her second goal of the game, and 12th of the season, on a power play setup from MacKinnon. 

The power play marker was much-needed as the T-Birds' special teams struggled to convert against the top-ranked Alberta penalty kill. UBC went an uncharacteristic 1-for-10 on the advantage throughout the weekend series.

With the win, UBC locks up the top seed in the conference, guaranteeing home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs.