Kodiaks' fast start helps visitors down Queens at RDC

Brent Forster – RDC

Red Deer, AB – The Lethbridge College Kodiaks' 11 point edge (26-15) in the first quarter made it difficult for the RDC Queens to overcome. The teams alternated the advantage from quarter-to-quarter, but the visitors' strong beginning helped them pick up a 72-67 decision.

The Kodiaks found their range in the first quarter, sinking three from beyond the arc and taking a 26-15 edge. The Queens started to find their tempo in the second quarter. The home team doubled up Lethbridge College 16-8 and pulled within a triple by half (31-34).

Stockholm's Sophie Melin led the RDC charge, draining eight points and adding five rebounds. The second-year also connected on 50 per cent of her three-point attempts.

At the break, Matlin McMurray and Denajha Kie had scored 10 points each for the Kodiaks. Lethbridge College had 16 attempts from long range, connecting on five. The Queens went four-for-eight.

The Lethbridge College Kodiaks got on a roll from the outside in the third quarter and outscored the Queens by eight (21-13). The RDC Queens had their best offensive showing in the fourth, knocking down 23 points, but they couldn't close the gap. The Kodiaks picked up a 72-67 win.

RDC held the rebounding advantage (58-42). Sandra Garcia-Bernal and Amy Szymanek shared the team lead with 12 each.

Amy Szymanek (6) 

Sophie Melin finished with 12 points and six rebounds.

Queens Head Coach Mandy Botham felt the energy level wasn't where it needed to be.

"I thought we were really complacent. I didn't see a ton of fire or compete from most of my lineup and that's not Queens Basketball," she says. "That's not the program that we're building this year. I was really disappointed with our effort tonight."

Fort St. John's Britney Peters was named the Collegiate Sports Medicine Queens Player-of-the-Game. The Bachelor of Education Elementary student totaled 17 points, 10 rebounds, two blocks and one assist.

"I thought Britney had a break through game for us. We are pretty deep at that fifth spot and it's always up in the air week-to-week who I'm going to start, which is a good problem to have as a coach. She had a really good game and played smart," says Botham.

"She did everything that we asked her to. I felt like she was really pushing to rebound, getting some big stops and scoring some baskets. It was nice to see her have a great game."

Britney Peters (11)

Matlin McMurray received the award for the Kodiaks. McMurray contributed 18 points, four assists and two steals, and hit five-of-eight from beyond the arc.

The Queens connected on 36.8 per cent of their field goal attempts and 40 per cent from three. The Kodiaks responded with 37.5 and 34.6, and took six more shots from long distance.

Next weekend, the Red Deer College Queens (4-2) will host the Briercrest College Clippers (4-1) in a pair of games. The two squads will first meet on Friday, November 22 at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre at 6:00 p.m.

"Both games this weekend, we didn't play up to our potential, so that's disappointing as a coach," says Botham. "I want to start watching film, get ready for Briercrest and have a better week next week."

The Kodiaks (4-3) will be back in action on Saturday, November 23 when they host the St. Mary's University Lightning (4-4) at 6:00 p.m.

Harneet Sidhu (14) had 12 points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals