X-Women start second half on winning note

ANTIGONISH, NS - Ekaterina Karchevskaya (Mogilev, BY) put up 18 points and five rebounds as the STFX X-Women basketball team picked up their third victory of the season with a 67-53 win over the Memorial Sea-Hawks on Friday evening at Coach K Court.

Katie Upham (North River, NS) added 16 points, six assists, and six rebounds for the X-Women, while Lauren Neeve (Oro-Medonte, ON) netted 11 points and five rebounds. Alyssa Jenkins (ST. John's, NL) lead the way for the Sea-Hawks with 17 points and five rebounds, while Brooke LeDevehat (Mount Pearl, NL) picked up 14 points and three assists.

The big difference in the game seemed to be turnovers, with the X-Women creating 24, and managing to convert 22 points off those turnovers, while only conceding 13.  

It was a close game for the first half, with the teams tied 22-22 with only a few minutes remaining. The teams traded buckets but Laia Torrent Blanco (Cornella de Llobregat, SP) hit a big three pointer late in the second quarter to help giver her team some breathing room, and the X-Women finished the half leading 31-27.

The Sea-Hawks dropped a pair of three pointers early in the third quarter, cutting the STFX lead to one point after two minutes. The tough X-Women defence led to a few fouls halfway through the third quarter, but the home team kept scoring and led 50-44 at the end of the third.

Memorial again started the fourth quarter with a three, but the X-Women were able to extend their lead to 11 midway through the final 10 minutes. Torrent Blanco fouled out with about three minutes left in the game, but the X-Women kept rolling and held on for the win.

STFX's Karchevskaya was named the AUS player of the game.

The teams have a short turnaround as they will square-off again on Coach K Court Saturday at 6 p.m. in Antigonish.

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Recap courtesy Matt Draper, STFX Athletics