Fredericton, NB- The St. Thomas University women's basketball team came out hot this last Saturday expanding their winning streak to six with a 75-48 victory over Mount Saint Vincent Mystics. They are now tied with Holland College Hurricanes for first in the ACAA.
Head coach, Fred Connors, was proud of the way his team played today.
"I thought we played really well, I thought our energy was where it needed to be, I thought our defence was really on point, and it doesn't hurt when we shoot the ball as well as we did."
Starter for the Tommies, the 3rd year forward Morgan McHatten (Woodstock, NB), had an intense game. Shooting 43% from the field, with five rebounds and 3 assists. She ended the first half with 16 pts. Although McHatten's work was evident by her points in today's game, Connors says that often her other attributes get unrecognized.
"Morgan gets recognised when she's shooting 16 points at the half, she had an incredible first half scoring wise, but I think it can get lost in all the other things that she's doing well. Passing the ball well, handling the ball, defending well, rebounding well."
After the game McHatten stated, "It was a good team win as everyone contributed and we played one of the most unselfish games of the season."
Emma Connors (Fredericton, NB), a rookie for the Tommies, was 3-4 from the 3 pt line, she ended the game with 11 points and 2 assists. Coach Connors says, "she shot the ball incredibly well, her defense was there, she wasn't turning the ball over, and she looked composed". Bridget Frazee (Sussex, NB) and Christina Richardson (Smith Falls, ON) also had 11 pts for the Tommies.
"After being on the road for a month and a half, it was awful nice to be home", Connors said post-game. Although the Tommies had a short bench compared to MSVU, each player brought their best game, "when we are playing a team like that, we need all hands-on deck".
"I am proud of the whole crew of them, they really played good solid team basketball, they were never rattled, Saint Vincent made a good run at us in the 3rd and we just kept composed and just kept on trucking and it really paid off"
McHatten says, "winning the series over MSVU feels amazing". A little nervous for the games to come, she says, "I know my teammates will help me through".
Leading scorers for the Mystics were Kelsey McGrath with 9 pts and 6 rebounds, Nikki Arsenault with 7 pts and 10 rebounds, and Julia Kokonis with 7 pts and 6 rebounds. The team now sits second in the league with a 10 and 4 record.
The Tommies meet the University of Kings College tomorrow at 12pm