The X-Women were slow getting out of the gate as their rival Cape Breton Capers grinded out a 75-67 win in front of a large ‘white-out’ crowd at the StFX Oland Centre Saturday night.
Capers Cassie Cooke dominated the X-Women down low and had a double-double night with 17 points and 11 rebounds for the visitors. She also contributed 5 steals and 4 assists. Subway Player of the Game Vicki Thistle scored 16 points and had 8 rebounds.
Kirsten Jones played a strong game for the X-Women in a losing cause, collecting a game-high 23 points. Donisha Young had a double-double evening with 15 points and 12 rebounds for StFX.
The X-Women were 35.8% from field goal range and 16.7% from three point range. These numbers did not add up to the Capers 39.1% field goal percentage and 41.7% three point percentage.
The X-Women could not find their legs in the first quarter as the Capers opened up an 11-0 run to start the game, controlling the early tempo. StFX pulled to within 20-14 after ten minutes of play but the Capers held onto their lead throughout the entire first half and entered the locker room at half-time with a 35-27 lead.
The X-Women narrowed the gap to five in the third quarter, but the Capers began to pull away and built up a 12 point lead, closing out the third frame up by ten points at 57-47. Despite playing a stronger second half and keeping pace with the Capers with 40 points apiece, the first half lead was too much for the X-Women to overcome as Cape Breton held on for the 75-67 win.
Stephanie Toxopeus scored 16 points in the Capers victory, while Tanira McClurkin and Jahlica Kirnon each scored 11 as all five CBU starters found their way into the double scoring digits.
Cape Breton improves to 7-5 on the season as they picked up two weekend wins including a tough 90-80 overtime win over first place Saint Mary’s last night in Halifax. They are tied for third place with Memorial (6-5).
The X-Women drop to 5-6 on the season and are tied for sixth spot in the AUS standings with Dalhousie (3-7), who they will next see action against when they travel to Halifax on January 29th. The Capers will host fifth place UNB (4-7) in a pair of games next weekend.