Basketball X-Women defeat Tigers

On the strength of sizzling three-point shooting, the StFX X-Women rallied from an early nine-point deficit for a 77-68 victory over the visiting Dalhousie Tigers in AUS basketball action Wednesday evening at Oland Centre in Antigonish.
 
The X-Women shot 54.5 per cent (12-for-22) from behind the arc, including a 5-for-8 effort from Subway player of the game Rebecca Sheehan.
 
The fourth-year senior guard from Fredericton, N.B., led the blue and white with 19 points, while adding four rebounds, three assists and one steal.
 
Guard Anne Kiberd chipped in 18 points, including a stellar 5-for-9 from three-point range, for winners.
 
After falling behind 12-3 in the first four minutes of the opening quarter, the X-Women bounced back to trail only 19-17 after 10 minutes.
 
Kiberd sparked the first-quarter comeback with eight consecutive points, including two three-point shots.
 
The X-Women surged to a 35-26 lead in the second quarter with an 18 to 7 run, which was highlighted by three Sheehan bombs from behind the arc.
 
The Tigers, who were led by Keisha Brown with 22 points, ended the first half with six straight points to cut the X-Women lead to 35-32.
 
Kiberd and Sheehan added three and two three pointers, respectively, in the third quarter, as the X-Women took a 60-53 lead.
 
In the fourth quarter, the Tigers could not get any closer than five points as the X-Women secured the victory.
 
In the final two minutes, blue- and- white senior forward Lia St. Pierre scored five points, including a key three-point play, to help fend off the visitors.
 
St. Pierre finished with 14 points, nine rebounds, five assists and one steal. Lindsay Lessard, the fourth X-Woman in double figures, scored 11.
 
Anna von Maltzahn had a double double for the Tigers with 10 points and 12 rebounds, while adding four assists. Guard Courtney Thompson contributed 13 points and seven assists for Dal, while Robbi Daley added 13 points.
 
With the win, the X-Women improve to 12-7, while the Tigers fall to 9-10.
 
The X-Women will wrap up the AUS regular season Saturday, Feb. 23 when they host the first-place Saint Mary’s Huskies (17-1).
 
Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. at Oland Centre.

-30-