Tigers drop season opener 80-73 to Capers

Game recap by: Kirk Jessome

(Halifax, NS) – In the tip off for the 2018-19 women's basketball season, the Dalhousie Tigers hosted the Cape Breton Capers for a set of back to back games. The game was tight till the fourth quarter where the interior game of the Capers helped them to an 80-73 win.

The Capers started the game with heavy defensive intensity with a full court pressure early that the Tigers had trouble handling, resulting in a few quick turnovers and an 8-2 for the Capers.

The Tigers were able to settle in in the next few possessions, with some help from nice interior play from Michele Tchiakoua (Yaounde, Cameroon) and Claire Hickman (St. John's NL) on the glass.

The Capers made a run towards the end of the quarter with Maia Watling (Palmerston North, NZ) getting to the hoop on back to back possessions.

The Tigers cut into the lead in the final minute of the quarter with Tchiakoua once again leading the way, finding Chelsea Slawter-Wright (Dartmouth, NS) under the basket for a lay-in with just seconds to go.

The first quarter ended with the Capers holding a slight advantage at 21-20.

The Tigers went cold through much of the second quarter, and the Capers were able to take advantage with Hannah Brown (North Sydney, NS) picking up eight points in a row on her own.

Robertha Charles (Montreal, QC) was able to get in the paint and get to the hoop late in the quarter, and Tchiakoua once again finished it off with a nice take before the buzzer, but the Capers still maintained their lead, going into the half up 46-37.

The Tigers opened the second half with some fire, starting with Tchikoua finding Charles down low for the hoop and the harm, knocking down a jumper of her own, and then finding Sophie Gaube (Hubley, NS) for a shot from deep to bring their team within four.

Hannah Brown stepped up again late in the quarter for the Capers, highlighted by a great dropstep around a Tigers defender to get an open layup.

Once again the Tigers were able to get the last basket of the quarter with under 20 seconds to go Diedre Alexander (Woodstock, NB) found Karina May (Moncton, NB) on the perimeter to bring the Tigers back within three heading into the fourth.

The teams were trading baskets through the fourth quarter, neither side able to gain any more ground, with Monique Calliste (Toronto, ON) making some nice moves to get to the hoop and take the contact to get to the line for the Capers.

On the other side, the Tigers spread their offense with Robertha Charles and Karina May continuing to hit mid-range shots late in the game.

The Capers were able to increase their lead by being aggressive in the paint and forcing the Tigers to foul in the dying minutes.

As the final horn blew to end it, the Capers came away with the 80-73 victory.

Michele Tchiakoua finished with a double-double for the Tigers with 15 points and 13 rebounds, while Hannah Brown earned the Subway Player of the Game honour with a game-high 29 points and 10 boards for a double-double of her own. 

The two teams will be back on the court tomorrow at 1:00pm for the second game of the back to back.