Melin and Queens dethrone defending national champion Broncos

Brent Forster - RDC

Olds, AB - The Red Deer College Queens have had a challenging schedule to open the 2019-20 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) season, but as Queens Head Coach Mandy Botham previously indicated, they were looking at it as an opportunity. Friday was the second time the Queens faced the defending national champion Olds College Broncos in only four games, but this time RDC came out on top, handing Olds College its first loss of the year (69-65).

Sophie Melin's 11 points, two steals, five rebounds and one assist had the Queens ahead 33-29 at the half. The second quarter was RDC's strongest, outscoring Olds College by ten (20-10).

Both teams scored 36 in the second half and the RDC Queens maintained their four point edge (69-65) at the final horn, wrapping up a very solid road win. 

Stockholm's Sophie Melin finished with 17 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals, and was named the Queens Player-of-the-Game. Three other Queens hit double-digits. Bachelor of Education Secondary student Amy Szymanek finished with 15 points. Surrey's Harneet Sidhu had 11 and Calgary's Valentina Rincon knocked down ten.

Alli Taylor contributed 14 points and was named the Broncos Player-of-the-Game. Brittney Thibeaux contributed ten points and her sister Brandi had 11.

RDC was stronger on the boards (44-38) and from the free-throw line (78.9-55.6%).

Impressively, the Queens picked up their third win in only their fourth game against some talented teams. RDC shares top spot in the south with St. Mary's University (3-3), Lethbridge College (3-1) and Briercrest College (3-0). 

On Friday, November 15, the Queens (3-1) will host the Ambrose University Lions (0-5) at 6:00 p.m.