Mystics recorded 66-54 victory over Chargers

(Halifax, NS) The Mount Saint Vincent Mystics defeated the Crandall Chargers 66-54 in the second game of their doubleheader Sunday afternoon at the A. Garnet Brown Memorial Gymnasium. 

Elissa Bryce (Rothesay, NB) would lead the Mystics' attack off the bench, as she scored 16 points, while recording 3 steals and 3 rebounds. Victoria Strickland (St. John's, NL) would chip in with 12 points, 6 steals, and 4 rebounds. Celine Sterckel (Moncton, NB) would record a double-double to round out the Mystics' performance as she finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds. 

Ella Smith (Moncton, NB) would lead the visiting Chargers with 15 points and 4 rebounds. Lauren Lilly (Summerside, PE) tallied 9 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals. Meghan Fisher (Medicine Hat, AB) would finish with 7 points off the bench for the Chargers. 

The Mystics got on the board first as Jenna Matheson (Halifax, NS) recorded the steal that led to the opening points of the game, as she executed a fast break lay-up off the Chargers' turnover. The Mystics would start the game on a 10-0, highlighted by back-to-back baskets by Sterckel. The Chargers would respond with a transition lay-up by Fisher and a driving floater by Ella Smith to cut the Mystics' lead to 12-6. The Mystics would close out the quarter strong as Strickland would connect from range to extend the Mystics' lead to 19-11 into the first quarter break. 

As the second quarter started, the Mystics continued to get production out of Sterckel, when she rolled to the basket and Emma Empringham (Sackville, NS) would find her on the dive to the basket. The Chargers would respond with consecutive baskets from Emma Smith to narrow the Mystics' lead to 25-17. As momentum shifted to the visiting Chargers, the Mystics would get an offensive surge from Keezaidra Smith (North Preston, NS) as she would score on two straight drives to the hoop to increase the Mystics' lead to 37-19. The Chargers would regain the momentum as Lilly would make a driving layup off the assist from Kaley Axworthy (Sydney, NS). The two would connect again, as this time - Lilly would find Axworthy for the three-pointer. The Mystics would take a 38-24 lead into halftime. 

The Mystics would extend their lead early as Smith would connect on consecutive layups to give them a 42-24 lead. The momentum would switch to the visiting Chargers as they would narrow the lead to 12 at 49-37. As both teams battled throughout the quarter, the Mystics would close out the quarter on a Bryce three off Jenna Matheson's assist as the Mystics would take a 52-37 lead into the final quarter. 

Bryce would open up the quarter with a crossover dribble that got her to the basket for a wide-open layup for the Mystics. As both teams traded points back and forth. The Mystics were able to extend their lead when Bryce stole the inbounds pass and scored at the basket to give the Mystics a 63-44 lead. The Chargers' late lead would not be enough to overcome as the Mystics won 66-54. 

The Mystics return to the court next Saturday, January 30th, when they travel to their crosstown rival's gym as they face off against the University of King's College Blue Devils. Tip-off is at 4:00 p.m. The Chargers will host the St. Thomas Tommies next Saturday, January 30th, at 4:00 p.m. in Moncton.