South top seed, St.Mary’s University, edges past The King’s University 78-73
St. Mary's University Lightning survived a never-say-die effort by The King's University Eagles to post a 78-73 victory in the opening round of the ACAC Women's Basketball Championships.
St. Mary's, the South's top seed after posting an 18-3 regular-season record, was the ACAC's highest-scoring team, averaging 74.2 points per game and had recently defeated the Eagles 80-56 in their lone regular-season encounter. But Lightning coach Steve Shoalts wasn't surprised by Thursday's tight game.
"We knew they'd make adjustments. They're well coached," said Shoalts, adding that experience helped his team prevail.
"We've been to playoffs before. At the end, that helped us. Our player of the year, Andria (Stitt), stepped up big for us. We got into some foul trouble, but our girls were really focused and calm."
Stitt (third year, Biology-Science, Birmingham, Alabama) had been named to the All-Conference First Team while also earning recognition as the South's Player of the Year. She led the Lightning with 22 points, including several key baskets in the fourth quarter when St. Mary's was trying to beat back the scrappy Eagles.
Teammates Maitlynn Wilde (third year, Elementary Education, Lethbridge) and Jazmyn Kellogg (third year, Psychology, Calgary) received First Team and Second Team honours respectively at Wednesday's awards dinner. Wilde finished with 17 points while Kellogg added 13, a total matched by Danya Osterling (fifth year, Bachelor of Ed. Secondary, Calgary). Osterling was selected St. Mary's player of the game.
The Eagles' Player of the Game was Aneilia Ayotte (second year, Science, St. Albert), who paced her team's attack with 21 points. Alyssa Yorke (second year, Science, Androssan) added 17 points while Megan Aleman (first year, Science, Lethbridge) chipped in with 15 points.
The Thunder used quickness and defensive pressure to build an early 15-10 advantage before the Eagles rallied to tie the score at 17-all. St. Mary's ended the first quarter with a 21-17 edge.
The Calgary squad ran the lead to 26-19 early in the second period before the Eagles came back to tie at 29. The Thunder went on another run, pulling into an 11-point lead, 47-36, on a three-pointer by guard Ivet Hidalgo (second year, Psychology, Calgary), before ending the half on top 47-39.
With 2:04 remaining in the half, Wilde left the court with a limp after an impressive driving layup that sent her sprawling to the floor. She returned to start the second half.
St. Mary's built another 11-point lead late in the third quarter on a three-pointer by Stitt, but The King's University outscored the Thunder 14-13 in the quarter and went into the fourth trailing 60-53.
Both teams treated the crowd to an entertaining final quarter, with the Eagles keeping the pressure on the Lightning into the final minute. Each time St. Mary's tried to put some distance between themselves and the Eagles, the opponents would launch another rally. St. Mary's opened a 76-67 cushion on a driving layup by Stitt with 2:07 to play, but an outside shot by Yorke cut the margin to five inside the final minute.
Players of the Game:
Lightning: #13 Danya Osterling
Eagles: #19 Aneila Ayotte