Capers edge Huskies in come-from-behind OT thriller

Capers edge Huskies in come-from-behind OT thriller

By Corey LeBlanc

Sydney, N.S. – The young Cape Breton University (CBU) Capers (5-4) wrapped up their pre-Christmas Atlantic University Sport (AUS) regular-season schedule with a 75-69 victory – in overtime – over the visiting Saint Mary's Huskies (6-3) at Sullivan Field House on Sunday afternoon.

Trailing by double digits in the fourth quarter (60-50), the home side rallied and pulled with two points with 2.3 seconds remaining.

After a CBU timeout, first-year forward Kiyara Letlow (Toronto, ON), who took the inbounds pass at the top of the key, found a cutting MacKenzee Ryan (Glace Bay, N.S.), who drove to the hoop and kissed a game-tying lay-in off the window at the buzzer.

The sides headed to overtime knotted at 65-65, with the Capers outscoring the Huskies 10-4 in the five-minute extra session.

"It was a huge win for our young team," Ryan, a fourth-year guard, said after the game.

When asked about the crucial last-second hoop, she explained that she recognized her defender was overplaying, so she "went back door."

After a see-saw first quarter, the Huskies led 18-15.

With Saint Mary's clinging to a lead midway through the second stanza, Marlo Steenbakkers (Ottawa, ON) drained a three-pointer and Alaina McMillan (Brantford, ON) collected a steal and lay-up to make it 30-23 for the visitors.

In the closing moments, McMillan meshed a basket from beyond the arc, and the Huskies took a 37-30 edge to the locker room.

The teams scored 16 points apiece in the third quarter, so Saint Mary's took a 53-46 advantage to the final 10 minutes of regulation.

In the fourth quarter, after a key shot block by Clara Gascoigne (Dartmouth, N.S.) and a jumper from Aki Kobayashi (Halifax, N.S.), the Saint Mary's lead ballooned to double figures.

But, from there, the CBU heroics kicked in, including a stellar effort on the interior from Letlow and Hailey MacLeod (Marion Bridge, N.S.), who both finished with double-doubles; not to mention a crucial three-point play from Leandra Hersey (Saint John, N.B.).

Letlow collected 29 points and 23 rebounds, along with two assists and one blocked shot, while MacLeod 12 points, 17 rebounds, and two assists.

Ryan added 10 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and two steals, while Chermensa Van la Parra (Rotterdam, Netherlands) also scored in double digits, with 11.

For the Huskies, McMillan scored 23, while Kobayashi and Steenbakkers added 13 and 10 points, respectively.

Gascoigne filled the stat sheet with six points, 14 rebounds, five blocks, four assists, and two steals.

When asked about the young Capers heading into the holidays with a winning record, Ryan said it reflects their continuing growth and improvement.

"I am really proud of our team – we are playing with grit and intensity," the team captain said.

She added that – more and more – the Capers are playing "disciplined, smart and hard."

"We have high expectations for the rest of the season."

Both teams will return to AUS regular season play in January.  

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