Stingers win the battle of rankings

Photo by Brianna Thicke
Photo by Brianna Thicke

In a battle between the Canadian Interuniversity Sports (CIS) league number eight-ranked, Concordia Stingers and the number nine-ranked, Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks, the Stingers women’s basketball team won the first game in their annual Concordia-Adidas tournament, 59-47.

Laurier entered the game with a winning record of 9-1 in the season play, good enough for first place in the tough west division of the Ontario University Athletics conference. The Stingers last played a month ago when they defeated Laval to get their second win of the season, but proved that a long break did not mean anything as they played great defence, which caused the Golden Hawks to have 25 turnovers, including 15 steals.

Laurier won the tip-off and scored the first points on basket by forward Alexandra Spadaro.  Concordia would respond within seconds as centre Serginha Estime got the team’s first basket.  The Golden Hawks would respond with a basket by guard Laura Doyle.

The last basket of the quarter showed the athleticism of Stingers’ guard Daphne Thouin, who got her basket as she was falling down to the ground. This quarter provided back and forth chances by both teams, but the Stingers took a 13-11 lead.

Laurier got the first points of the second quarter, a three-pointer by Doyle. Concordia replied with a 5-0 run.

The Golden Hawks fouled Stingers guard Kaylah Barrett three times in the quarter and she was 4-for-6 from the free-throw line. Concordia’s point guard Ashley Clarke added a three-pointer to extend the Stingers’ lead. Golden Hawks guard Samantha Jacobs would get a late two-pointer. The Stingers great defensive play in the quarter held their opponents to just seven points in the quarter. The Stingers led 31-18 at halftime.

The Stingers capitalized early with baskets from Estime and Marilyse Roy-Viau. At the six minute mark, Laurier got their first points of the quarter on two foul shots by Jacobs. Laurier guard Kaitlyn Schenck then added a three-pointer. However, the Stingers led 47-32 at the end of the third quarter.

The Golden Hawks started with the ball in the fourth quarter and capitalized on a 5-0 run. Clarke answered with a three-pointer, which gave some momentum to the Stingers. Roy-Viau added to the Stingers lead with a three-point play (a basket plus foul shot). Golden Hawks forward Heather Payne got a late three-pointer to decrease the margin of victory for the Stingers.

Estime was the Stingers’ player of the game. She had 11 points and 11 rebounds. Barrett was the game’s leading scorer with 14 points.

Pruden said the team’s victory was a  “pretty good effort considering the long break and only two practices.”

 

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