HAMILTON, Ont. - The Redeemer women's basketball team took centre stage on Saturday in an afternoon match up against the 8-3 Saints from St. Clair College. The 4-8 Royals were looking for back-to-back wins after a convincing victory over the Lambton Lions on Friday night. In a game that saw Redeemer force overtime in the dying seconds of the fourth quarter, the Saints walked away with their ninth win of the season in a 81-70 defeat of the Royals.

Redeemer gave the top-ranked Saints all they could handle as the Royals displayed a balanced attack despite dealing with foul trouble all night. Down 68-63 in the final minute, Lindsay Moffatt put up her first points of the quarter when she hit a three-pointer to bring the game within two. Then, with just 11 seconds to go, she hit a jump shot with to tie the game and force overtime.

A few mistakes by the Royals and some solid outside shooting from St. Clair gave the Saints an early lead in the five-minute overtime as they outscored Redeemer 12-2 to take the match.

Jesseca Brown (Grand Manan, N.B.) and Samantha Donald (Hamilton, Ont.) each contributed 14 points for Redeemer and Lindsay Moffatt (Hamilton, Ont.) added 10. Brown also added 11 rebounds, four assists, and three steals before fouling out late in the fourth quarter.

Jaide Lyons had a game-high 22 points for the Saints.

With every loss for the Royals, the playoff hopes fade. However, the Lady Royals displayed grit and determination on Saturday afternoon, playing to the final whistle as the team continues to improve.

In Friday night's game against the Lions, Moffatt led the Royals with 28 points in an 80-67 win over Lambton. Brown added 17 while Arica Price (Fort McMurray, Alta.) had 13.

Next weekend the Royals travel to Sudbury in a back-to-back match up against Cambrian College on Friday and Saturday.

Source: Redeemer University College