Sidhu powers Queens past Lions at RDC

Brent Forster - RDC

Red Deer, AB – The Red Deer College Queens saved their best for last. The visiting Ambrose University Lions were within a bucket against the RDC Queens in the opening half (37-35). As the game progressed, so did the Queens' play and efficiency. The RDC Queens had a 14 point advantage in the final two quarters, finalizing a 79-63 victory at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre. 

After a close start (10-8), the Lions started heating up from the outside. The visitors went on a 12-1 run to pull ahead 20-11, connecting on four three-pointers in the first quarter alone. Before the end of the ten minute frame, the RDC Queens closed the gap (18-22). Led by Amy Szymanek, the Queens outscored the Lions by six (19-13) in the second quarter and sat with a 37-35 advantage at the break.

Amy Szymanek (6)

"I thought Ambrose came out to a really hot start and had a really good shooting night outside. It forced us to adjust our game plan a little bit," says Queens Head Coach Mandy Botham. "It took us a while to kind of settle down, and play composed, but eventually we got there."

By the half, the Lions had hit 48 per cent of their shots from the field and point guard Avery Deighton led Ambrose with nine points The Queens responded with 36.6 per cent from the field, sparked by Bachelor of Education Elementary student Amy Szymanek's nine points.

The Queens pushed the pace in the second half, outscoring the Lions 42-28. This included a 25-14 third quarter. After 40 minutes, the RDC Queens completed a 79-63 victory, their fourth in a row.

Mallory Uskiw (7) had 4 points and 3 rebounds

Harneet Sidhu was named the Collegiate Sports Medicine Queens Player-of-the-Game, contributing 18 points, six assists, three rebounds and one steal. Dora Tasovic received the award for the Lions, totaling seven assists, three rebounds, three points and one steal.

"I've been so impressed with Harneet and the amount of growth she's had as a person, and as a player this year. She plays with a lot of intensity and passion, but she's able to stay composed when she needs to," says Botham.

"She did a really good job controlling the tempo, knowing when we should fast break and when we should pull it out and be patient. She hit some pretty big shots for us in the third and fourth that really helped us get that win."

Sidhu was seven-for-fifteen from the field.

RDC's Amy Szymanek finished with a double-double (19 points and 12 rebounds). Tegan McArthur led the Lions with 16 points, and hit three-of-eight from behind the arc.

The Queens held a significant advantage on the boards (66-32). Sandra Garcia-Bernal had 16.

Sandra Garcia-Bernal (23)

RDC went 32-for-82 from the field (39%). Ambrose University sank 23 out of 66 field goals (34.8%).

With the victory, the RDC Queens share top spot in the south with the Olds College Broncos (4-1) and the St. Mary's University Lightning (4-3). The Lightning have also played two more games.

"It's been a really positive vibe in our dressing room and it's been nice to see the payoff for the athletes – in the wins, in the stats. All those things that I've been so tough on them about since the summertime," says Botham.

"I feel like they are finally seeing the results of all that hard work they put in. In turn, that's improved our chemistry, competitiveness and desire to keep improving."

The RDC Queens (4-1) will entertain the Lethbridge College Kodiaks (3-3) on Saturday, November 16 at 6:00 p.m. at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre. At the same time, the Lions (1-5) will host the Olds College Broncos (4-1) in Calgary.