Broncos over a shorthanded Queens team in Olds

Brent Forster - RDC

Friday evening, the Red Deer College Queens Basketball team faced the Olds College Broncos on the road, and with a reduced lineup the Queens led after three quarters but fatigue set in late and the Broncos picked up a home win. At the half, the Broncos led 44-39. The Queens outscored the Broncos 22-13 in the third quarter but Olds College capitalized on a tired Queens squad in the fourth quarter and picked up an 88-77 win at home. The RDC Queens have been hit by the injury bug and they have a handful of student-athletes watching from the sidelines. 

Only two points separated the teams after the first quarter, and the Olds College Broncos held a slight 21-19 lead. Maya Parker led the Queens with 8 points. The fourth-year guard from Calgary added 1 rebound and 1 assist. Kristina Bajovic picked up 11 points for Olds College.

The Broncos held a three point edge in the second quarter (23-20) and at the half Olds College led 44-39. Paige Schultz led RDC with 8 points. The Kinesiology & Sport Studies student from Saskatoon added 2 steals, 3 rebounds and was 2-for-2 from behind the three-point arc. Bajovic accumulated 10 points for Olds College in the quarter.

The RDC Queens had an excellent third quarter and put up 22 points. Olds College responded with 13 points and the Queens were up by 4 points (61-57). In the quarter, Mary Krause contributed 6 points and 1 rebound for the Queens. Bajovic accumulated 7 points and 3 rebounds for Olds.

With several student-athletes thrown into playing big minutes in key roles, fatigue was a factor in the fourth quarter. Olds College outscored RDC 31-16 in the final quarter and the Broncos picked up an 88-77 win. In the quarter, Maya Parker stacked up 5 points, 1 steal, 2 assists and 1 rebound. Brittney Thibeaux scored 10 points for Olds College. 

Over four quarters, Maya Parker and Paige Schultz totaled 19 points each for RDC. Bajovic led Olds College with 36 points. As a team, the Queens earned 37 rebounds, 12 steals and shot 42.3% from the field. 

With a list of injured RDC Queens watching, Queens Basketball Head Coach Ken King was very pleased with the effort. "We played incredibly well and many student-athletes stepped up in key roles. I felt that we outworked them tonight. Late in the game, it appeared that fatigue set in which was more cause for errors," said King. "With seven student-athletes not in the lineup, many Queens stepped up and it's a great testament to them. While those absences could potentially suck the energy out of a team, it hasn't with us. The student-athletes have risen above the adversity and they have shown positive attitudes." 

King noted the strong play of Maya Parker and Paige Schultz. "Maya had a great game. Besides her 19 points, she distributed the ball really well, played some big minutes and was aggressive," said King. "Paige is really coming along for a first-year player. She went 5-for-11 from the three-point line and added 6 rebounds to go with her 19 points."

The Red Deer College Queens (2-5) will compete next against the Lethbridge College Kodiaks (2-4) on Friday, January 12, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. on the road.