The StFX X-Women posted a 0-3 record during a Thanksgiving weekend exhibition road trip to Ontario.
Despite the three losses, X-Women head coach Augy Jones said the road trip was successful and that there were several bright spots, noting everyone on the roster played in each game.
"We are keeping things in perspective," commented the third year head coach. "We have a young team, with a lot of freshman, along with returning players who are taking on increased roles this season. In pre-season, although the goal is to win every game, it is not the primary focus."
"These pre-season games are part of a 'growth process' for our team, and are about building team chemistry and working to keep improving." Jones said.
Saturday, the X-Women dropped a 78-51 decision to the host Guelph Gryphons. Off the bench, Lindsay Lessard (Waterloo, ON) led StFX with 17 points, while she and Kolbi Roper (North Vancouver, BC), topped the team with seven rebounds apiece.
Roper was the only other blue-and-white player in double figures, with 11 points. Freshman Carolyn Smith (Montreal, QC) led the X-Women with four steals. The Gryphons led 42-27 at halftime.
Megan Brenkel, off the bench, led Guelph with 22 points, while Dana Van Balkom and Katherine MacTavish hit double figures with 19 and 13, respectively. MacTavish and Van Balkom added six rebounds apiece.
Friday night, the Western Mustangs defeated the X-Women 74-66. Statistics from that exhibition match-up were unavailable.
The X-Women opened their three-day trip Thursday night with a 62-43 loss to the York Lions. Lessard, with 10 points, was the only StFX player to reach double digits. She added seven rebounds and one steal in the loss.
Roper chipped in nine points, eight rebounds and one steal, while Shannon Hatch (Arzo, Switzerland) led the X-Women with three steals.
Nina Guzina and Courtney Osborne led the Lions with 10 points apiece. The X-Women recorded 13 steals, while committing 29 turnovers. York secured the victory with a 38-16 scoring advantage in the second and fourth quarters combined.
The X-Women return to pre-season action when they host Laurier [Oct. 16] and Laurentian [Oct. 17] at Oland Centre. Both games are scheduled to tip-off at 6 p.m.
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