Halifax, NS - The StFX X-Women played their first pre-season exhibition game on Saturday and defeated the Mount Saint Vincent Mystics by a 70-67 score.
X-Women head coach LeeAnna Osei noted, "I am very proud of how our players stuck together in a close game against a very well coached MSVU team on the road."
There were multiple lead changes throughout the game, with the X-Women trailing 15-13 after the first period, then leading 30-28 at halftime.
Early in the third quarter MSVU went on a 9-0 run. First year X-Women forward Marley Bonnick made key plays in the backcourt with her passing, and scored consecutive baskets inside to put StFX back in the lead by the end of the third quarter, 50-47.
Defensive intensity increased by both teams in the final quarter of the play. The X-Women led by as much as 10 points in the fourth quarter until the Mystics hit a late scoring run to cut the lead to three. The game solidifying basket was a made three pointer by X-Women third year guard and co-captain Kimberly Kingsbury with under a minute remaining in the game as the final tally 70-67 finished in StFX's favour.
Coach Osei commented, "Our staff is pleased with the intensity and confidence level that was displayed by our returners and a number of our first year athletes in their first unofficial game at this level."
"Moving forward there are areas of our play that need to be cleaned up, especially as a young team learning how to play with one another. We feel competing against experienced OUA teams will help prepare us for AUS play."
The X-Women will play three more exhibition games on October 9 to 11 when they travel to Ontario to take on UOIT, Toronto and Laurier. The AUS regular season opens on November 2nd in Halifax when the X-Women will take on the Dalhousie Tigers.
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