LANGLEY, B.C. — The Parkside women's basketball team opened the 2025–26 season in the win column on Thursday night, defeating Simon Fraser 61–50 at the Langley Events Centre. The Rangers used a strong middle stretch and a balanced effort on both ends of the floor to earn the season-opening victory north of the border.

Both teams battled through a cold-shooting first quarter, with Simon Fraser holding an 11–9 edge after the opening ten minutes. Parkside settled in during the second quarter, tightening its defense and finding better rhythm offensively. The Rangers outscored the Red Leafs 17–9 in the period, using an 8–0 run midway through the frame to take the lead for good. Peighton Nelson, Cassidy Arni and Harley Wock helped spark the surge, with Wock knocking down the three to extend the Parkside lead. Parkside's defense held Simon Fraser to just 3-19 shooting in the quarter. The Rangers carried a 26–20 lead into halftime.

The third quarter proved to be the difference, as Parkside's offense clicked into gear with 18 points while holding Simon Fraser to just ten. Nelson continued to facilitate the attack, while sophomore guard Katie Hamill knocked down a key three-pointer and attacked the paint to help extend the margin. Parkside's defense continued to stifle SFU's shooters, allowing only four made field goals in the period as the Rangers built a 44–30 advantage heading to the final quarter.

The Rangers kept their foot on the gas in the fourth quarter, extending the lead to 17 points on a Hamill three before ultimately closing out the 11 point season-opening victory.

Hamill led all scorers with 18 points, adding five rebounds, and five steals, in a standout Ranger debut. Nelson finished with ten points, four assists, and three rebounds, while Arni contributed 12 points, five rebounds, and four assists. Lillie Petersen pulled down 11 rebounds and tallied two steals to anchor Parkside defensively, and Lexi Bugajski added eight rebounds and two steals. Off the bench, Alli Hampel provided nine points.

Parkside held Simon Fraser to just 31 percent shooting overall and 1-of-13 from three-point range, while out rebounding the Red Leafs 46–39.

With the win, Parkside improves to 1–0 and will be back in action tomorrow afternoon at 3:15 p.m. Central (1:15 p.m. Pacific) from the Langley Events Centre, taking on Saint Martin's in the second of three games in Canada to open the 2025-26 season.