Mystics beat Hurricanes 71-60

(Halifax, NS) Mount Saint Vincent Mystics defeated the Holland Hurricanes 71-60 at the A. Garnet Brown Memorial Gymnasium.

Amanda Pearcey (Torbay, NL) led the Mystics offense today with 17 points, four steals, and three rebounds. Emma Garagan (Halifax, NS) came off the bench and chipped in with 13 points and four rebounds. Marley Curwin (Halifax, NS) contributed with a double-double performance, as she finished with 11 points, 11 rebounds, and six steals.

Alexa Rancourt (New Dominion, PE) led the Hurricanes, in defeat. She finished with a game-high 18 points, seven rebounds, one steal and one block. Molly Steadman (Quispamsis, NB) helped out the Hurricanes offense, as she finished with 12 points, six rebounds, and two assists. Nykeva Brown (Halifax, NS) rounded out the Hurricanes output, as she had eight points off the bench and one assist.

The Mystics got off to a hot start this evening, jumping out to a 7-2 lead, thanks to three pointers from Pearcey and Curwin. The Hurricanes battled back into the game as their defensive intensity picked up, highlighted by steal and layup by Amy Plaggenhoef (Stratford, PE). Both teams went back and forth, but it was the Mystics that took the 4 point lead into the 2nd quarter, leading 17-13.

The Hurricanes came out of the quarter break, ready to make a run this evening, and their run midway through the quarter was highlighted by a lay-up by Rancourt, a fast break lay-up by Steadman, and a lay-up by Karissa George (New Glasgow, NS). The Hurricanes were hanging on to a narrow lead in the final seconds of the quarter, but Mystics guard, Curwin stole the ball and pushed the ball up the court to her teammate Pearcey who hit the buzzer beating three to give the Mystics a 28-27 halftime lead.

The Mystics started the quarter with a 10-0 run, highlighted by a steal by Celine Sterckel (Moncton, NB) which led to a three-pointer by Victoria Strickland. The Hurricanes looked to match the Mystics run with a run of their own. Brown hit a three pointer, followed by a steal and lay-up by Vataya Talbot (Truro, NS). The Mystics were able to expand their lead by the end of the quarter, taking the 47-41 lead into the final quarter.

Both teams looked to close out the other at the start of the quarter to secure a crucial win. Curwin struck first with a steal which lead to a transition layup. Rancourt counter with a lay-up of her own. The Mystics made a vital run midway through the quarter that closed out the game, highlighted by a trio of plays. Garagan had a strong take to the basket that led to an And-1 finish. A few plays later, Curwin assisted on a Garagan three pointer, the Mystics would rebound the next possession and it was same result. Another three by Garagan, assisted by Curwin. The Mystics won the game 71-60.

The Mystics move to 5-1 and the Hurricanes fall to 3-2. Both these teams return to the court in Halifax to play each other tomorrow evening. Tip off is at 4:00pm