KINGSTON, Ont. - Both the St. Lawrence College (SLC) Vikings and Algonquin College Thunder women's basketball teams entered the SLC gymnasium on Saturday, Nov. 16, looking to remain perfect to start the 2013-14 Ontario Colleges Athletics Association (OCAA) regular season.
The game was especially important for the Vikings as they wanted redemption over last year's game at home when the Thunder snapped SLC's 14 game-winning streak, eventually winning the 2012-13 OCAA provincial championship.
It was a rough start to the first half for the Vikings as they were forced to survive off of foul shots, with Algonquin quickly running up to five fouls in each quarter. From the line, SLC shot 7-of-13, but was ice cold from the field, going 9-of-31 (29 percent).
"We needed to be much better after the first half. We weren't playing our game, as the girls were getting sucked into taking contested shots," said Vikings head coach Remy Simpson.
It was more of the same at the start of the second half, with the teams trading points. But a key moment of the half was when Lacey Knox was awarded two foul shots, that was met with much disapproval from the Thunder coach, who was given a technical foul. The result was a quick five points and two more off the next possession that brought the score to 48-46 for the Thunder.
With Algonquin hanging on to a three-point lead late in the fourth quarter, the Vikings would make costly mistakes in the offensive end with key rebounds not going in, and turning the ball over. With 47 seconds remaining Kim Cupid from Algonquin would hit a three-pointer right at the shot clock buzzer that proved to be the dagger in the 64-54 win for the Thunder.
"We were a little stunned in the first half as this was our first real test this season. We did a lot uncharacteristic things that cost us. The girls now know the importance of being focused in practice when we get to these big games," said Remy.
Abby Heron would go 9-of-11 from the free throw line and record 19 points. Knox kept control down low, recording a double-double with 10 points and 14 rebounds.
The next game for the Vikings takes place on Friday, Nov. 22 when they travel to face the 2-3 Seneca College Sting. Game time is 6 p.m.
Source: St. Lawrence College