Mystics defeat the travelling Chargers 93-59
Victoria Strickland led the charge for the Mystics as she finished with a game-high 22 points.
(Halifax, NS) The Mount Saint Vincent Mystics would defeat the visiting Crandall Chargers 93-56 Saturday afternoon at the A. Garnet Brown Memorial Gymnasium.
Victoria Strickland (St. John's, NL) lead the Mystics' attack, finishing the game with a game-high 22 points, 3 rebounds and 3 steals. Celine Sterckel (Moncton, NB) would finish with 17 points, 7 rebounds and 4 steals. Victoria Mumford (Fall River, NS) chipped in with 15 points off the bench for the Mystics.
Ella Smith (Moncton, NB) would lead the Charger's offence, finishing with 14 points off the bench and 5 rebounds. Charity Hearn (Medicine Hat, AB) aided the offence with 11 points and 3 steals.
As the opening quarter started, the Chargers struck first as Lauren Lilly (Summerside, PE) would steal possession from the Mystics and capitalized off an open layup to give them a 4-0 lead. The momentum would shift as Sterckel would connect from deep, and Kaleigh Whiffen (St. John's, NL) would record a lay-up off the Keezaidra Smith (North Preston, NS) assist to give the Mystics a 8-5 lead. The Mystics would continue to build on the momentum in a slow-paced quarter, as they would use their stifling defence to increase their lead, closing out the quarter with a 27-12 lead.
Teams would trade points early but the Mystics would maintain their lead throughout the quarter. Mumford would be a key contributor for the Mystics as she connected on consecutive three point attempts to give the Mystics a 46-20 lead. The Mystics offensive attack continued through the second quarter, and they would close out the half strong when Strickland would connect with a deep three pointer at the buzzer, as she finished with 19 points in the first half. The Mystics would take a 55-25 lead into the break.
The Chargers opened the second half strong, as Kaley Axworthy (Sydney, NS) stole the ball and succeeded with an open court layup. Tristan DesRoches (Miramichi, NB) would record a layup in the next possession for the Chargers. The Mystics would respond with a trio of three pointers by Emma Empringham (Sackville, NS), Sterckel and Strickland to their lead to 68-29. The momentum would switch with the Chargers late in the quarter as they would get great bench play from Emma Smith, as she recorded a layup and knocked down a 3pt shot moments later. The Mystics would head into the final quarter with a 76-47 lead.
As the fourth quarter opened, the Mystics were able to maintain their lead, highlighted by strong play from Sterckel, as she would have her handprints all over the final quarter. She would record a steal, and an assist in transition and she would find her teammate Elissa Bryce (Rothesay, NB) for the open lay-up. Sterckel would then connect on another layup to increase their lead to 84-49. The Mystics would end up claiming victory 93-56.
Both teams will return to the court tomorrow afternoon at 2:00pm.