Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
LETHBRIDGE – As confounding as it is devastating, the MacEwan Griffins women's basketball team conceded a 29-0 run against during a stretch in the third and fourth quarters against the Lethbridge Pronghorns on Saturday night.
Needless to say, the contest was wrested out of their control at that point, ending in an 83-66 defeat.
"Lethbridge went on a run and we just couldn't get ourselves back in rhythm," said head coach Katherine Adams. "Lethbridge seized the opportunity and kind of ran away with it from that point on, which is disappointing after the effort that we put forth in the first half and first part of the third quarter."
In fact, Adams called the first 25 minutes of the game – in which the Griffins had built a 52-42 lead and were in control of the proceedings – the best they've played all season.
"We played really, really solid," she said. "Just a really great total team effort and then we just got out of sync with about five minutes left in the third quarter."
After Mady Chamberlin hit a three with 3:41 left in the third to put the Griffins up by 10, their offence went stone cold. MacEwan didn't score again until the 6:46 mark of the fourth quarter when they found themselves down by 19.
In between, they committed nine turnovers, missed five field goals, two free throws and three threes.
"We have to use it as a learning opportunity and knowing what was it in that moment when things switched? What did Lethbridge do that really turned the tables in their favour that we just struggled to get out of and identify what it is that we can hang our hat on so we can get a stop when we need it in those moments," said Adams.
"Obviously, we weren't successful at that today. It's a chance for us to take a look at and see where we can grow and get better with those things."
With the result, the Griffins fall to 1-5 on the campaign heading into the semester break, which will give them a chance to get healthy. They were missing star forward Shannon Majeau during the Lethbridge series and Darian Mahmi played limited minutes with an injury.
"We were managing a few injuries here and there that certainly changed our structure and our look and the options we had at both ends of the floor," said Adams. "But you adapt as best as you can and it provided an opportunity for some other people to come in and get some great learning. It was a chance for them to showcase what they can do. That's what teams are about.
"We think these lessons are going to serve us well down the road."
Mackenzie Farmer led the Griffins with 17 points, while Noelle Kilbreath had 16 and Chamberlin chipped in 12.
Next up for MacEwan is a pair of home games against Alberta on Jan. 14-15.
