Halifax, NS - The STFX X-Women basketball team claimed a pair of pre-season exhibition wins this weekend over the Niagara College Knights (88-28) and the Mount Saint Vincent Mystics (78-50).

It was the team's first time competing since their return from Barcelona, and the improvements were evident on both sides of the ball. "I was pleased with how we defended and rebounded in both games," commented head coach Matt Spencer. "It allowed us to get out in transition a bit and score some easier buckets. We are on the right track."

On Saturday afternoon, the X-Women were slow out of the gates, falling behind 4-3 in the opening minutes before roaring to a 24-6 lead at the quarter break. After taking a 50-10 halftime lead, the X-Women slowed their pace slightly en route to the 88-28 win.

Fourth year forward Ekaterina Karchevskaya led the scoring for X with 14 points, while fifth year transfer Alisha McNeil chipped in with 10 points, and Reegan Bell, Krissy Cooper, Jaya D'Souza, and Abby Mercer each had 9. All 13 players who appeared in the game scored points.

The front court trio of Liz Kennedy (12 points), Shannon Neita (12 points), and Karchevskaya (8 points) led the scoring for the X-Women in Sunday's 78-50 win over MSVU.

"We were without both of our point guards this weekend, so I was pleased that we were still able to establish our inside game," noted Spencer. "Once we started to collapse their defence, I thought we did a great job in both games of kicking the ball back out and knocking down open shots."

The perimeter attack was led by guards Ella Brazier (8 points), McNeil (8 points), and Cooper (7 points) – and for the second consecutive game, all 13 X-Women scored.

The X-Women are back in pre-season action on Sunday afternoon when they travel to Halifax to take on the Dalhousie Tigers. Game time is 1:00pm at the Sexton Gym.

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Recap courtesy STFX Athletics