Posted: Jan 19, 2011
Seahawks at home during the weekend.
Saturday's game saw the X-Women defeat the Seahawks by a score of 58-44 in one of
the best defensive performances by any team this season. Lead by Ashley Stephen's
20 points and 12 rebounds - along with seven steals - the X-Women rolled over
Memorial.
Stephen's energy along with the rest of the X-Women defence is what brought the blue
and white back into Saturday's game.
After allowing 31 first half points, the X-Women held the Seahawks to an astonishing 13
total second half points including a two point fourth quarter which sealed the deal for X.
Coach Matt Skinn called Saturday's fourth quarter, “The best defensive quarter I've ever
seen.” The X-Women who are 6-3 in conference play now are posting one of their best
defensive seasons in school history. Coach Matt Skinn preaches defence and it shows.
Through nine games, the X-Women are holding their opponents to 55.4 points pergame
while scoring 70.7, giving them a +/- of +15.2.
Making her case for defensive player of the year, Stephen, a defensive staple for the XWomen
is averaging 3.2 steals per game, leads the team in rebounding averaging 7.4
on the season through nine games (67 total), and is second on the team behind Kirsten
Jones for blocked shots.
The second game of a back-to-back saw the X-Women fall just short to the Seahawks,
losing 68-66.
The X-Women had no answer for the Seahawks in the first half who jumped out to a
45-29 lead in the first half after a sluggish start on both ends by the X-Women. The
Seahawks shot 71.4% in the half from the field along with shooting 83.3% from behind
the three.
The second half showed shades of Saturday night's game as the X-Women's defence
once again showed up to hold the Seahawks to seven third quarter points. Leading the
charge was second year guard Jocelyn Moore who came in to replace the injured Tory
Anderson. Behind Moore's 11 points, the X-Women made a huge charge into the fourth
quarter and went on a 16-2 run to tie the game up in the final few minutes of the fourth
quarter. Unfortunately, the run came up just short as a few foul calls down the stretch
proved to be the deciding factor in X's fate.
First year X-Woman Donisha Young tallied 12 points before leaving with injury while
Camesha McKenzie, the spark, dished out a season high seven assists while scoring
10 points.
The weekend split is nothing for the X-Women to shake their heads at as they now look
forward to a rematch on Wednesday agains the Cape Breton Capers at home. The
Capers are coming off wins and look to hand the X-Women their second straight loss.
Head coach Matt Skinn commented that the key for Wednesday's game will be
rebounding as the Capers are much bigger than the X-Women. If X can keep CBU off
the glass and continue their defensive dominance there's no doubt they can even the
season series at 1-1.
Wednesday's game starts at 5:00 PM and is the first ?white-out' game of the season.
Make sure to come out early and wear your white!
Courtesy Mat MacDonald