Game recap by Kirk Jessome
(Halifax, NS) – In an important 4-point game for conference standings, the Dalhousie Tigers hosted the Cape Breton University Capers at the Dalplex in matinee action. In a game that came down to the last possession, the Capers were able to hang on for a 72-67 win.
Monique Calliste (Toronto, ON) got the Capers off to a hot start from the field in the opening minutes with threes on back to back possessions and 8 of her team's first 10 points.
The Tigers were able to counter the size of the Capers with their own, with Lia Kentzler (Gottingen, GER) and Chloe Wilson (Dartmouth, NS) getting into the paint for timely scoring.
The shooting for the Capers was outstanding in the opening quarter however, at 67% from the field and 3-4 from deep to help them to a 21-16 lead heading into the second quarter.
MacKenzee Ryan (Glace Bay, NS) kept the hot three-point shooting going for the Capers, opening the quarter by knocking down another shot from beyond the arc. The Tigers were able to counter back in the second quarter, however, with Meghan Greenland (St. John's, NL) hitting a pair from deep to swing the momentum back in the Tigers favour.
With the deep shots forcing defenders to honour the shooters ability, it opened up space in the paint for the Tigers to make some great interior passes for Wilson and Bridget McSwiggan (Ottawa, ON) to work their way back into the game in the dying minutes of the half and taking the lead in the final seconds.
As the clock was ticking down the Capers pushed the ball in transition for the final possession. MacKenzee Ryan slashed from the top to the free-throw line and fired a bullet of a pass to the wing for Sydney Guker-Wickie (Waterloo, ON) to knock down her team's fifth three of the half to take over the lead at 39-37 as the buzzer sounded.
The roles were reversed in the third quarter, with Greenland knocking down her fourth three of the game, while on the other end the Capers were pushing the ball into the paint for Helene Kystad (Kolbotn, NOR) and Ava Prosser (Johnstown, ON).
The high scoring offences from the first half slowed the game down in the second with both teams working the clock, and the Capers were able to maintain their two-point advantage at 52-50 heading into the final quarter.
The Tigers got a big run to start the fourth quarter with Morgan Gause (Baltimore, MD) and Chelsea Slawter-Wright (Dartmouth, NS) getting involved in the two-woman game with Wilson at the top of the key to open up driving lanes for back to back wide-open layups to force a Capers timeout.
Looking to push ahead late in the fourth, Chloe Wilson knocked down a big three for the Tigers, but the lead swung back to the Capers on the next play with Hailey MacLeod (Marion Bridge, NS) answering on a tough and-one play.
The battle extended into the final seconds, with the Tigers forced to foul, Ryan put her team up 70-67 with a pair from the line, giving the Tigers possession back with 21 seconds to go.
With the Capers pressuring up on the ball-handlers, McSwiggan fired up the final shot looking for the tie, but it wouldn't go for her. As the final buzzer sounded, the Capers were able to hang on for the 72-67 win.
Chloe Wilson led the attack for the Tigers, finishing with 20 points and 9 rebounds. For the Capers, MacKenzee Ryan finished with 23 points to lead all scorers, while Monique Calliste earned the Subway Player of the Game title with 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists to go along with a solid defensive game.
The Tigers will have a pair of home games against UPEI starting on Saturday, while the Capers will do the same against Acadia.