Mystics fall to Seawolves
Celine Sterckel was the top scorer in the Mystics 68-61 loss to the UNBSJ Seawolves Sunday afternoon in Halifax.
Halifax, NS – The UNBSJ Seawolves defeated the Mount Saint Vincent University Mystics 68-61 Sunday afternoon in their second game in as many days.
The Seawolves opened the scoring with Llorena Prekaj (Mississauga, Ont.) making her first basket of the game. They controlled much of the first quarter, leading by as many as 11. Both teams played a full-court press on defence, looking to force turnovers, but the Mystics struggled under the Seawolves pressure turning the ball over 10 times.
The Mystics gained some ground early in the second quarter, out-scoring the Seawolves 6-1 within the first two and a half minutes of play. Both teams traded points during the rest of the quarter, but it was the Mystics who won the quarter with 19 points. The Mystics took the lead thanks to a drive from Jenna Matheson (Halifax, NS) who got the hoop and the harm, but the Seawolves regained the lead a few minutes later the thanks to Avery Alward's (Saint John, NB) field goal in the last 30 seconds of the half to take a 31-30 advantage into the locker room.
Coming into the second half, the Seawolves outpaced the Mystics 23-13 and grew their lead to 54-37 with just over three minutes left in the quarter. Ainsley Green (Perth-Andover, NB) scored eight of UNBSJ's points, while Maddie Baker (Oxford, NS) added seven. Jenna Matheson led the Mystics in the third quarter with four points.
MSVU rebounded in the fourth quarter and again chipped away at the Seawolves lead. They were able to get within five, but ultimately fell 61-68 to split the weekend 1-1.
Baker scored a game-high 17 points for the Seawolves and added five rebounds. Prekaj netted 16 of her own and added seven rebounds, five assists and two steals.
Celine Sterckel was the top scorer for the Mystics with 15 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and two steals in 24 minutes of play. Jenna Matheson contributed 13 points, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block.
The Mystics are back in action when they host the Crandall Chargers Saturday, January 24, while the Seawolves have a bye.