THUNDER BAY – Sports – The Lakehead Thunderwolves women’s basketball team dropped their regular season home opener to the Queens Gaels, 67-63 in overtime on Friday evening. Their record now slips to 1-2 on the season.
Lakehead fought hard down the stretch to eliminate a 10+ point deficit in the second half, out-scoring Queen’s 21-12 in the 4th quarter. Unfortunately Queen’s was able to tie the game at the buzzer with a runner in the lane from Robyn Pearson, who finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds on the night. Gemma Bullard was the Gaels’ top scorer with 16.
In overtime the Gaels would grind it out for the road victory, in part because Ayse Kalkan, who had ignited the LU defense earlier was sitting on the bench fouled out in overtime.
Lakehead’s top scorer was Ayse Kalkan with 18 points, including 6 clutch free throws in the 4th quarter when the T-Wolves were making their run. Kelsey Bardsley shot 5-19 on the night for 14 points (4 three’s). Carolyn Fragale has 11 points and 3 assists.
Lakehead was out-rebounded 42-29.
Lakehead coach Jon Kreiner said, “For three quarters we played safe, timid, scared and we didn’t execute anything well. We prepared for this team more then any team this year but we did not follow our game plan with physical play or intensity. Once we decided to put the pressure on, work hard, get out of our comfort zone and buy in we looked pretty good out there. Still, FT’s and rebounding lost us the game. 10-20 [free throws] in the second half in an overtime game will come back to hurt you every time. In overtime we stopped doing what we were doing, got ‘safe’ again and weren’t ready to score and attack. We need to build on the positive 4th quarter and realize it’s not about the score but how we are playing.”
The women are on the road in Ottawa next weekend for games against Carleton and Ottawa U.
