The X-Women basketball team posted a respectable 2-1 record in exhibition play this past weekend at the inaugural Thunder Selects CIS Holiday Classic tournament in Halifax. StFX dropped their opening game 86-62 to Acadia, then came back with wins over non-conference opponents Lakehead (71-63) and Manitoba (73-60). Forward Lia St. Pierre was named to the tournament all-star team.
In Friday’s tournament opener against AUS opponent and CIS ranked No. 6 Acadia, the Axewomen dominated from the opening tipoff, avenging an earlier loss to the X-Women in late November to close out the first half of AUS regular season play.
The Axewomen held a 23-15 lead after the first quarter, and increased that lead to 51-36 at half-time. The X-Women were outscored 35-26 in the second half as Acadia played to what would be their only win of the tournament. They later dropped games to Saint Mary’s (73-64) and Dalhousie (68-55).
The Axewomen had three players in double scoring figures including Lindsay Harris with 22 points, 9 rebounds and 5 steals. Player of the game Emily Nkoski scored 21 points and had 8 rebounds and 2 blocks, while Abbey Duinker added 20 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks.
Lia St. Pierre garnered player of the game honors for the X-Women and was their leading scorer with 16 points. She also added 8 rebounds and 2 steals. Kolbi Roper scored 13 points and had 8 rebounds and 2 steals while Rebecca Sheehan and Anne Kiberd each contributed 8 points apiece.
The game marked the return of guard Vanessa Pickard, reigning CIS Rookie of the Year. She had missed the entire first half of the season due to a concussion. She scored 5 points in playing 14 minutes for the blue and white in the losing effort.
The X-Women (32.4%) were outshot by the Axewomen (48.5%) from field goal range, as well as from the three point line (36.0% to 12.5%) and foul throw shooting (68.4% to 48.0%).
In Saturday’s 71-63 victory over Lakehead, the X-Women improved their game to hold on for the win over the OUA team. The Thunderwolves had a 15-13 edge after the first quarter of play, but the X-Women turned it around to a 34-32 half-time advantage. A 17-12 third quarter helped the X-Women improve their lead and hang on for the win, their first of the tournament.
Player of the game Rebecca Sheehan led the X-Women attack with 18 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block, while Kiberd scored 13 points and had 4 rebounds, 2 steals and a block. Kiley Delong scored 9 points and played well at the net, collecting 12 rebounds. St. Pierre and Lindsay Lessard each scored 9 points, with Pickard adding eight.
StFX was 33.9% from field goal range, 33.3% in free throw shooting and 61.5% from the foul line. The Thunderwolves were 30.3% in field goals, 12.5% in free throws and 54.2% from the charity stripe.
Player of the game Ayse Kalkan was their high scoring with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Carolyn Fragale and Ashley Randall each added nine points in the losing effort. The Thunderwolves (0-3) were held winless for the weekend.
The X-Women wrapped up the holiday tournament with a 73-60 win over Manitoba on Sunday. The blue and white opened the game with a 22-16 first quarter lead, but a 15-7 second quarter in favor of the Bisons gave them a 31-29 edge at halftime.
The X-Women came back in the third quarter to outscore the Canada West team 22-12 and held on in the fourth quarter en route to their second consecutive win. The Bisons closed out the tournament with an 0-3 record.
StFX improved to 50.9% in field goal shooting and 70.8% from the free throw line in their final game, and were 22.2% from three-point range. The Bisons were 33.9% from field goal range, 33.3% in three-point shooting and 63.6% from the free throw line.
Four X-Women hit the double scoring digits in the win, including Roper with 19 points and 4 rebounds and Lessard with 13 points. Sheehan scored 11 points and added 6 rebounds, while St. Pierre had 10 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 steals in the game for the X-Women. Nicolette Fong Lyew Quee earned player of the game honors for the X-Women for her effort off the bench.
Stephanie Gill was the player of the game for the Bisons, scoring 15 points and contributing 9 rebounds. Robyn Eyer led the Bisons with 20 points and Sheree Carmona-Glada scored 11.
The X-Women were the lone team to post a 2-1 record in the six team tournament. Both the Dalhousie Tigers and CIS ranked No. 4 Saint Mary’s Huskies posted 3-0 records, while the Axewomen were 1-2 and the Thunderwolves and Bisons were held winless at 0-3.
The X-Women will return to AUS regular season action when they travel to Halifax on January 5th for a 6:00 pm match against the Dalhousie Tigers. They will host the Cape Breton Capers Tuesday evening, Jan. 8th at the StFX Oland Centre.