X-Women 1-2 at UofA Invitational

Photo courtesy Humphrey Sheehan
Photo courtesy Humphrey Sheehan

The StFX X-Women posted a 1-2 record over the weekend at the University of Alberta Invitational in Edmonton.

Sunday afternoon, the blue and white dropped a 64-44 decision to the host Alberta Pandas.

Fifth-year guard Lia St. Pierre, a tournament all-star, led the X-Women with 14 points, while adding five steals, four rebounds and an assist.

Guard Vanessa Pickard, with 10, also scored in double figures for the X-Women.

She also led the team in rebounds (eight) and assists (four), while chipping in four steals.

Kolbi Roper, with four, and Rebecca Sheehan (three) also contributed to the X-Women's 19-steal effort.

Andria Carlyon led the Pandas with 15 points, while Saskia Van Ginhoven and Renee Byrne added 10 points apiece.

The X-Women led 27-26 at halftime.

The Pandas outscored the X-Women 22-7 in the fourth quarter to help secure the victory.

Saturday, the X-Women edged the Regina Cougars, the defending CIS silver medalists, 69-64.

Player of the game Pickard led the team with 23 points, including four three-pointers. She added three rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Lindsay Lessard, with 18, and Roper (14) also hit double digits for the X-Women. Lessard, who made 10 out of 14 free throws, added five rebounds and two steals.

St. Pierre led StFX with eight rebounds, while Roper added seven.

After trailing 33-25 at halftime, the X-Women outscored the Cougars 44-31 in the second half, including 26-16 in the third quarter.

Alyssia Kajati led Regina with 22 points.

Friday, the X-Women opened the tournament with a 66-59 loss in overtime to the UBC Thunderbirds.

StFX was down by nine points with four minutes left in the game and came back to tie the game 65-65 to send it into overtime.

Unfortunately they ran out of steam and were outscored 10-3 in the extra frame.

Roper led the blue and white with 16 points and nine rebounds.

Lessard and St. Pierre added 14 points each. St. Pierre dished out six assists, while Pickard contributed three steals.

Kris Young and Maggie Sundberg led the Thunderbirds with 19 and 15 points, respectively.

The X-Women return to pre-season action October 25-27, when they participate in the Don Grant Classic in Moncton, NB.

The blue and white will face AUS opponents UPEI, UNB and Acadia.

The X-Women will tip-off regular season play when they host the rival Cape Breton University Capers Wednesday, Nov. 6 at Oland Centre. Game time is 6 p.m.