The StFX X-Women used a fourth quarter surge to put the Dalhousie Tigers away 77-63 Friday night at the Dalplex. The win brings the X-Women into a tie for third place with the Tigers.
StFX had fourt starters in double figures and exposed the Tigers lack of depth late in the game, forcing the issue all game long with crisp passing and efficient offensive sets.
Kolbi Roper and Lia St-Pierre each had 18 points to lead the X-Women, who used their scoring touch to get ahead, despite being severely outrebounded.
Tessa Stammberger recorded yet another double-double, dropping a game-high 19 points on 8-16 shooting and adding 12 boards.
Both teams battled early in the second half, trading buckets and trading leads. The X-Women were hot from deep early in the game, shooting 3-4 (75%) in the first quarter. The X-Women trailed 18-15 after ten minutes of play.
The X-Women came out with an agenda in the second quarter, forcing turnover after turnover as the Tigers just couldn't keep control of the ball.
The X-Women opened up the lead to double digits when they stretched the score to 31-21 midway through the second quarter, but Tessa Stammberger quickly responded with an and-one to trim the lead back to single digits.
Courntey Thompson hit both of her freethrows with 30 seconds left in the half and the Tigers trailed the X-Women 38-30 at half.
Tessa Stammberger had five rebounds to help the Tigers dominate the boards in the half, outrebounding the X-Women 26-12.
Vanessa Pickard went 2-3 from deep in the half and led all scorers with ten points as the teams went into the third quarter.
Courtney Thompson finished off a beautiful pass for the reverse layup to kick off the second half, cutting the X-Women lead to six.
The Tigers played with a rejuvenated sense of energy in the third quarter, outscoring the X-Women 13-6 and trimming the lead to just one with five minutes left.
Robbi Daley drained a three with 3:40 left in the quarter to give the Tigers their first lead since early in the first quarter. The Tigers were pushing the ball more, exposing weak transition defense by the X-Women.
The X-Women couldn't convert as time expired in the quarter, and a late three by Rebecca Nuttall gave the Tigers a 52-51 lead going into the final frame.
The X-Women rattled off five quick points right off the bat as the Tigers saw their small lead quickly dissipate. The X-Women would not relinquish their lead, finishing with 26 points in the quarter on their way to a 77-63 victory.