StFX claims MSVU tournament title

The X-Women basketball took to the court this weekend in Halifax after a long holiday lay-off, competing in the Dyrick McDermott Invitational tournament at Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU). With a 3-0 effort, the X-Women took home the tournament title, besting the UPEI Panthers 60-45 Sunday afternoon in the championship game.

Third year guard Vanessa Pickard was named tournament most valuable player and teammate Lia St. Pierre joined her on the tournament all-star team as both players put forth solid efforts for the blue and white over the condensed two-day event.

After having Friday's game cancelled due to a winter storm in the region, the X-Women played two round robin games on Saturday, the first one being a 82-40 victory over the host MSVU squad.

The ACCA team was no match for the X-Women who jumped out to a commanding 43-16 halftime lead.

Player of the game Pickard and St. Pierre both scored 17 points apiece for StFX. St. Pierre also contributed seven rebounds, five assists and four steals in the winning effort.

Forward Lindsay Lessard scored 13 points and had three rebounds and four steals, while Kolbi Roper netted 10 points.

Replying for the Mystics was Nyka Reigo with seven points and former X-Woman Jocelyn Moore with six.

The X-Women played to another dominating 74-39 victory over the Lakeland College Rustlers from Alberta.

Pickard again received player of the game honors as she scored a game-high 24 points, along with three rebounds and three steals. St. Pierre tallied 17 points and had four rebounds, while Lessard netted 10 points and seven boards.

Melissa Gottschall scored nine points off the bench for the X-Women who led the Rustlers 48-26 at halftime.

Cameo McKerlie was Lakeland's leading scorer with 13 points, while Amanda Carlton scored nine.

In the championship game of the four-team event, StFX player of the game St. Pierre contributed seven points, seven rebounds and eight assists in a balanced X-Women effort and a 60-45 victory over their AUS counterpart UPEI.

After leading by just one point at halftime (22-21) and 40-38 after three quarters, the X-Women outscored the Panthers 20-7 in the fourth quarter on route to the victory and tournament title.

Kolbi Roper led the blue in white in scoring with 18 points and had a double-double game with ten rebounds. Lessard played strong, contributing 14 points and seven rebounds, while Pickard netted eight points and had four rebounds and four assist. Rebecca Sheehan added seven points for X.

Leading the Panthers was Darcy Zinck with 18 points and Candice Smith with 10.

The X-Women (3-5) will return to AUS regular season action on Friday, Jan. 10th in Halifax with a game against the undefeated and CIS ranked No. 1 Saint Mary's Huskies (8-0). Tip-off is 6:00 pm at the Homburg Centre.