X-Women edge Capers 72-71 in exciting home opener

The X-Women basketball team opened up the AUS season in exciting fashion with a 72-71 victory over the CIS No. 6 ranked Cape Breton Capers in a game that went down to the wire at the StFX Oland Centre Wednesday evening.

The win marked the first victory for the X-Women over the Capers in four and a half years, dating back to an 82-81 StFX overtime win on January 13, 2007 in Antigonish. Cape Breton has won 12 AUS regular season contests since then and two playoff games, including a 67-53 win over StFX in last year's bronze medal game at the CIS national championship.

With only seven seconds to inbound the ball, veteran fifth year X-Women post Kirsten Jones made good on a jumper giving the X-Women the one point edge with only three seconds left in the game. The play came after Capers veteran guard Jahlica Kirnon sank a basket to give the Capers the lead as the final minute of play was exciting back and forth action.

Kirnon led all scorers in the game with 27 points and also added six rebounds and three steals. Jones was the high scorer and player of the game for the X-Women with 20 points, four rebounds, two blocks and two steals.

The X-Women got off to an early lead over the three-time defending AUS champion Capers in the first quarter, building up a nine point cushion midway through the opening frame. The Capers battled their way back and outplayed the X-Women in the final minutes of the first quarter to close the gap to 20-17 in favor of the X-Women after 10 minutes of play.

The second quarter saw the teams get off to a sluggish start then both squads were exchanging baskets as the lead didn’t change by more than a basket up until the 2:36 mark when Capers second year forward Kayla McCarron hit a three pointer and Kirnon followed up with a jumper to give the Capers a five point margin. The X-Women closed the gap and held a slight 34-33 lead at half-time.

The third quarter of play belonged to the Capers as they outscored the X-Women 21-16 and held the lead for the majority of the quarter. Kirnon scored 10 of her game-high 27 points in the third frame as the Capers took a 54-50 lead.

Cape Breton carried their momentum into the fourth quarter and continued to shut down the StFX offense and add points to the board themselves. Kirnon’s three pointer with 5:24 left to play gave the Capers an 11 point lead.

Cue the StFX comeback.

The X-Women began to slowly shave the Capers lead and Jones stepped up with some big defensive plays to keep StFX in the game. Freshman guard Vanessa Pickard drained a three-pointer with just over four minutes left in the game which cut the lead to six, then followed up with a jump shot to reduce it to four. StFX forward Donisha Young powered through the Caper defense to drive to hoop and tie the score at 68-68 with 1:09 left to play. The teams then exchanged baskets until Jones’ clutch shot sealed the win for the home team with the 72-71 final score.

Young finished with a double-double for StFX with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Pickard scored 14 points and added five boards. Freshman guard Anne Kiberd contributed 10 points in the StFX win.

Alongside Kirnon’s 27 points, Cassie Cooke scored 14 for the Capers and Kayla McCarron scored nine points. Vicki Thistle had eight rebounds and five points.

Next on the schedule for the X-Women is a trip on the road to visit the Dalhousie Tigers this Saturday, November 12th.