Charlottetown, PE – The X-Women basketball team began pre-season exhibition play this past weekend in PEI against a pair of AUS opponents.
The X squad played two close games, dropping an 88-76 decision in overtime to Acadia on Saturday afternoon, and falling 70-58 on Sunday to UPEI. (Game statistics were not available).
X-Women head coach LeeAnna Osei commented, "For our first games in 18 months, I was really pleased with how our young team is looking and how we competed."
"We played against the former AUS finalist Acadia squad in the first game and we led the whole game, form tip-off until the end of the fourth quarter. We just lost some focus and discipline and ended up falling in overtime."
She continued, "I couldn't have asked for a better overall effort for our first game. We had a shot at the buzzer to win it but in overtime we just ran out of gas and I think experience played a factor as well."
In the game against UPEI, Osei noted that they knew it would be a tough game, going up against the former U SPORTS bronze medalists. "UPEI have one of the most experienced rosters in the conference and they brought back a lot of key players from that medal-winning roster so we knew it would be a tough match."
"I thought we had a good start to the game, similar to the Acadia game, but we hit a wall in the second and third quarters and were trying to find answers for their key players."
The Panthers held leads of 38-24 at halftime and 60-35 after the third quarter.
Coach Osei was pleased with the steady production from veteran players Kim Kingsbury, Aliyah Fraser, Briar MacDonald and Grace Rheault over the weekend.
"I also was pleased with how our first year players contributed to the offensive output and on defense as well. Elizabeth Kennedy, Kira Atherley and Tyra Atherley made key contributions. I was happy that we were able to get everyone on the roster in game action."
"It was a good showing for first year players and a welcome addition to the depth we've needed in the past. It will make a positive difference for us come conference play."
Osei continued, "This is what exhibition games are for. We see what we are looking like early in the season and to compete against two top teams, I am happy with how we showed up. One takeaway we want this season is always to demonstrate energy, intensity and unselfishness and I think anyone watching the games this weekend would see we accomplished that.
The X-Women will be back in pre-season competition on Saturday, October 9th against another AUS foe. The Dalhousie Tigers will be in town for a 2:00 pm tip-off at the STFX Saputo Centre.
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Courtesy Krista McKenna, STFX Sports Information
