Queens show resilience but can't overtake Lightning, optimism aplenty for next season

Brent Forster - RDC

Red Deer, AB – A single point separated the Red Deer College Queens and St. Mary's University Lightning after the third quarter (47-46). Then the Lightning shooters got hot from the outside, but the home team did not pack it in against the third nationally ranked women's team.

In the fourth, St. Mary's sank four from beyond the arc, totaling 25 points in the frame and picking up a 72-67 road decision. 

"I thought that we competed really well," said Queens Head Coach Mandy Botham. "I was really proud of the effort and attitude and just the relentlessness, that no matter what the scoreboard said or how much we got down, we refused to quit."

The Lightning captured an 11 point margin (21-10) over the first quarter, but the Queens responded in the second. The home team knocked down 15 points and the visitors replied with nine. At the half, St. Mary's was up 30-25.

The Queens dropped 21 points in the third quarter. In the fourth, the Lightning were efficient from beyond the arc. They hit 80 per cent of their shots from three, and scored a total of 25 points. The home team replied with another 21, but the visitors picked up the win.

Lauren Cardinal was selected the Collegiate Sports Medicine Queens Player-of-the-Game. The third-year Bachelor of Kinesiology student recorded a double-double (14 points and 14 rebounds).

Britney Peters has played very well for the Queens, especially in the second half. The third-year forward scored a team-high 16 points. She added seven boards, three steals, two blocks and an assist, while hitting 100 per cent of her free-throws and three-point attempts.

Stockholm's Sophie Melin contributed 13 points. 

"There were things that they all did that really impressed me. I liked our balanced scoring. St. Mary's is a phenomenally good three-point shooting team and I thought over both games our defence on their three-point shooters was really strong, and that takes a five person effort," said Botham.

"For our young team to go against a veteran team, our press was effective and we got contributions all the way along."

The Lightning have five third-years, two fourth-years and one fifth. Four Queens are finishing their third-year. The RDC team has no fourth or fifth-year student-athletes.

Emily Wagner picked up the award for the Lightning, contributing 19 points, six assists, four rebounds and two steals. Wagner went three-of-six from three-point range. Juhee Anderson had 14 points and Danya Osterling added 13.

The Queens took a slight edge on the boards (45-44).

As a group, the RDC Queens shot 34.7 per cent from the field. The St. Mary's University Lightning connected on 45.6 per cent of their attempts.

The RDC Queens' regular season is complete, finishing fifth in the south with a 10-11 record. St. Mary's (16-5) will compete in the playoffs after sealing second in the division. 

"There's been a tremendous amount of positives in growth individually in the athletes and collectively in the program. Some of the key things we decided as a team we'd focus on back in August, were our relentlessness, refusing to quit, and trying to be a great teammate," said Botham.

"Consistency is another one. Consistency in our effort, in our attitude, in the classroom, going to lift weights and getting our shots up. From a basketball skills side and from that culture side, I'm really proud and excited the direction Queens Basketball is headed."