The StFX X-Women basketball team is set to compete in the 7th annual Dyrick McDermott Invitational Tournament in Halifax at Mount Saint Vincent University. Presented by EastLink, the tournament will take place January 1-3, 2016.
Just prior to the MSVU tournament, the X-Women will host a rare New Year's Eve home exhibition game versus the University of Winnipeg out of the Canada West conference. Game time is 7:00 pm this Thursday, December 31st at the StFX Oland Centre and admission is free of charge.
Along with the host MSVU Mystics and the X-Women, also competing in the invitational exhibition event are St. Thomas and Mount Allison, who compete in the CCAA with the Mystics. The X-Women defeated the Mystics 65-60 September 27th in a pre-season scrimmage.
Tournament action tips off Friday evening with the X-Women and Mounties at 4:00 pm, followed by the Mystics and Tommies at 6:00 pm.
StFX will then face MSVU on Saturday morning at 11:00 am and St. Thomas at 8:00 pm Saturday evening. The championship game is slated for Sunday at 1:00 pm as the top two teams from round round play will square off.
For the complete tournament schedule and ticket information, click here.
X-Women head coach Augy Jones comments, "We look forward to attending this annual event put on by coach Mark Forward at MSVU."
"He and the late Dyrick McDermott have created a great small college basketball program there. The timing of this holiday tournament also gives us time to have 3-4 days of practices after a month away from the gym as a team."
After wrapping up six games of AUS regular season play in November, the X-Women currently sit in seventh place in the eight-team conference with a 1-5 record. Averaging 66.3 PPG (fifth in the AUS) and allowing 74.2 PPG (seventh in the AUS), the blue and white are looking to turn the tides in the New Year.
Coach Jones comments, "We are looking to build on our four-point win at home versus Dalhousie before Christmas break. Our defensive and offensive execution in that game was much improved, so we are working to make that habitual."
AUS all-star forward Lindsay Lessard, in her fourth season from Waterloo, ON, currently leads both the AUS and CIS in scoring, averaging 20.2 PPG. She is also rebounding 7.2 RPG, good enough for seventh overall in the AUS conference.
Veteran fifth year center Kolbi Roper (North Vancouver, BC) leads the conference in rebounding (10.2 RPG) and is fifth overall in the country. She is second in team scoring, averaging 13.2 PPG.
Following the MSVU tournament, the X-Women will resume AUS regular season action on Friday, January 8th at Dalhousie for a four-point game, followed by another four-point game Saturday night, January 9th at home when they host UNB at 6:00 pm at the StFX Oland Centre.
The Cape Breton Capers will be in Antigonish on Wednesday, January 13th for a 6:00 pm game at the Oland Centre.
X-Women fans are reminded that tickets for all home games can be purchased at any time at the StFX Keating Centre box office or online through www.ticketatlantic.ca. Advance ticket rates are available up to two hours prior to home doubleheaders and will save fans money at the door.
For the complete X-Women schedule, visit http://www.goxgo.ca/sports/wbkb/2015-16/schedule.