Mounties impress home crowd in CCAA Nationals finale

Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association
Women's Basketball 2018 National Championships

Hosted by Mount Allison University, Sackville, NB
March 14-17, 2018

Game Summary: March 17, 2018

Match 10: 12:00 pm (ATL)            MSVU 65 Mount Allison 50
 
The second Bronze qualifier was a rematch of the ACAA championship game, that was won by the Mount Allison Mounties in overtime against the MSVU Mystics. A good crowd of fans cheering for each school ensured a great atmosphere.
 
MtA jumped out to an early lead, despite running into foul trouble. They played the Mystics tough inside, not allowing inside passes to Mystics' starting post Kate Gallant. MSVU's Maria Carroll and MtA's Sarah McGeachy traded banked-in 3's off the backboard, which seemed to give both teams a boost. Karly Buckingham came off the bench for the Mounties and gave the team an immediate boost, playing 16 productive minutes at both ends of the court. Rookie Nikki Arsenault came off the bench and ignited the Mystics with 8 first quarter points, staking MSVU with a slim, 15-14 lead after one.
 
Aggressive defence by both teams marked the start of the second. MSVU's Kate Gallant twice had three shots in a row, each time frustrated by Mounties defenders. Madison Jennex and Marika Williams' long–range scores allowed the Mystics to take a 35-24 lead into the second half.
 
Both teams were cold to open the second half, but back to back 3's by MtA's Emma Hachey and MSVU's Marika Williams shook the rust off for both sides. MtA pulled within 7 and seemed to have regained the momentum, however the Mystic full-court pressure generated 7 points in the last 1:30. Heading into the fourth: Mystics 51-Mounties 37.
 
Kelsey McGrath dropped four quick points to increase the Mystics' lead to 18, forcing a MtA timeout. The Mounties regrouped and immediately came right back with buckets from Buckingham, Mangold and MacEachern, which closed the gap by six. The balance of the quarter was characterized by tough, no-holds barred defence and on-ball pressure from both squads. MSVU came away with the 65-50 win, and a spot in the Bronze medal match against Montmorency.
 
For the Mystics, it was Marika Williams who led the way with 20 points. Kate Gallant added 11, plus 15 rebounds. Kelsey McGrath and Nikki Arsenault had 10 points each. The Mounties received 18 from Lauren MacEachern, 9 from Karly Buckingham, and 8 each from Emma Hachey and Kiersten Mangold.
 
Players of the Game: Maria Carroll (MSVU), Karly Buckingham (Mount Allison).

This concludes the 2018 CCAA National Championship for the Mounties, who celebrated a great week as first time hosts of the CCAA's flagship women's national championship.

 
For more information, schedules, and photos, and to watch online visit: http://www.ccaa.ca/sports/wbkb/index. Follow on Twitter @CCAAsportsACSC #CCAAwbb2018