Game recap by Kirk Jessome
(Halifax, NS) – In the Tigers first exhibition game of the season on home court, they played host to the Durham College Lords on Saturday at the Dalplex.
The Tigers defence was strong in the opening minutes of the game, getting hands into lanes to deflect passes and create transition opportunities. The Tigers capitalized on those chances to jump out to a quick lead.
The possession troubles spilled over to the other side of the floor for the Lords as well, giving up rebounds and second-chance points in the paint for the Lia Kentzler (Gottingen, GER) and the Tigers.
A timeout from the Lords sparked some energy, with Jaime Gordon (Uxbridge, ON) getting her team going by knocking down a jumper right out of the break.
The Lords were able to make up some ground just before the end of the quarter with Marie Stasuik (Cobourg, ON) nailing a very tough shot from deep through contact for the elusive four-point play.
At the end of the quarter, the Tigers held a 22-13 advantage.
The Tigers got off to a hot start in the second quarter, knocking down threes from Chelsea Slawter-Wright (Dartmouth, NS) and Emily Holt (Halifax, NS) on back to back possessions.
Durham was able to get a bit of a half-court game going in the quarter, with Sierra Oliver (Ajax, ON) showing some nice handles from the top of the key to get into the paint for a layup on an isolation play.
At the end of the half, both teams kept right on pace with the first quarter as the Tigers held a 46-28 lead.
After a quiet start to the quarter for both sides, the Lords were able to start pushing the ball inside for Stasuik and Katiesha Brissett (Pickering, ON).
Off of made baskets, the Lords midway through the quarter, the Lords brought a press that was giving the Tigers trouble getting out of their own half. Turnovers began to pile up and the Lords made a run that nearly cut the deficit to single digits.
Andrea Zulick (Sudbury, ON) knocked down a very tough shot from deep with a hand in her face to cap off the run, but the Tigers were able to answer back, breaking the press and getting the transition game going again.
Heading into the final quarter, the Tigers still held the lead at 60-43.
The Tigers shooters were able to find space in the fourth quarter, with Meghan Greenland (St. John's, NL) and Slawter-Wright hitting from deep.
First-year Nalini Maharaj (East Bay, NS) also impressed for the Tigers, getting into the paint for some physical plays on both ends and coming away with some important points.
Some foul trouble for the Tigers gave the Lords a chance at free-throws with a dead clock and work their way back, but the lead was too much in this one.
As the final whistle blew, the Tigers came away with the 80-60 win.
Zulich led the Lords with a game-high 17 points and 10 rebounds in the loss, while the Tigers got scoring from Holt and Slawter-Wright, both with 15 points.
The Lords will continue their tour of Halifax tomorrow when they take on the MSVU Mystics, while the Tigers will wait for the visiting Lethbridge Pronghorns to wrap up their pre-season next week.