Mystics fall to Hurricanes 74-57
The Mystics were defeated by the visiting Holland Hurricanes in the second game of this weekend’s doubleheader.
(Halifax, NS) The Holland Hurricanes defeated the Mount Saint Vincent Mystics 74-57 at the A. Garnet Brown Memorial Gymnasium.
Lauren Armstrong (Canberra, Australia) finished with a game-high 21 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks. Alexa Rancourt (New Dominion, PE) tallied 14 points, eight rebounds. Nyveva Brown (Halifax, NS) came off the bench for the Hurricanes, she finished with 10 points, six rebounds and five assists.
Amanda Pearcey (Torbay, NL) led the Mystics in defeat, as she finished with 12 points and four assists. Celine Sterckel (Moncton, NB) supported the Mystics offense with 11 points, seven rebounds, and three assists. Marley Curwin (Halifax, NS) rounded the Mystics output this evening with a double-double performance. She finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
As both teams returned to the court to play the second game of a doubleheader this weekend, both teams looked to strike early. The Hurricanes had a strong start to the quarter, highlighted by Rancourt who made a driving lay-up and a jumper that beat the 24-second shot clock. The Mystics responded with a three pointer by Amanda Pearcey to give the Mystics an early 11-9 lead. The Mystics extended their lead thanks to a three pointer by Lily Newberry (Yellowknife, NT) and a transition lay-up by Pearcey to give the Mystics a 16-11 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Hurricanes had an early highlight in the quarter as they stole the ball from the Mystics, leading to a transition lay-up by Vataya Talbot (Truro, NS). The Hurricanes' pressure ensued, capped off by a three pointer to beat the 24-second clock by Armstrong, that tied the game up at 18-18. Curwin came out of the timeout midway through the quarter, as she hit a bank three pointer to give the Mystics a 25-22 lead. The Hurricanes quickly responded with a made three from Armstrong. As both teams, looked to gain the momentum heading into the halftime break, it was the Mystics that responded next as Sterckel crashed the glass to gain the offensive rebound, and she finished with the play with a lay-up. The Hurricanes answered with a huge three pointer by Amy Plaggenhoef (Stratford, PE), and a midrange jumper by Rancourt to give them a 34-31 halftime lead.
The Hurricanes came out of the break to extend their lead with a 7-0 run, highlighted by a made three by Plaggenhoef. The Mystics responded off a Hurricanes turnover with a give-and-go attack, finished by Curwin and assisted by Sterckel. As the Mystics continued to chip away at the Hurricanes lead, it was a three by Karissa George (New Glasgow, NS) and killed the momentum for the Mystics. The Hurricanes swarming defence forced the Mystics into four consecutive turnovers, the last one led to a Plaggenhoef made three to give the Hurricanes a 51-42 lead. The Mystics attempted to close the gap in the third quarter, but the Hurricanes continued to be effective from the field, as they took a 56-49 into the final quarter.
Pearcey hit a turnaround jumper early in the quarter, as the Mystics looked to make a fourth quarter comeback. The Hurricanes quickly answered with three key plays which led a Mystics timeout. The first play was a lay-up by Rancourt, followed by a Molly Steadman (Coldbrook, NS) lay-up off an offensive rebound, then another offensive rebound that led to a lay-up by Vatay Talbot (Truro, NS) that stretched their lead to 62-51. After the timeout, the Mystics responded with a crucial three by Emma Garagan (Halifax, NS) to close the lead to eight. The three forced the Hurricanes to call a timeout, as they looked to regain their composure. Out of the timeout, the Hurricanes answered the Mystics attack when Brown stole the ball and finished with a fast break lay-up to extend the lead back to double digits. As the game clock dwindled, the Hurricanes closed out the Mystics, in thanks to a lay-up by Rancourt with 1:57 remaining in the game. The lay-up gave the Hurricanes a 13-point lead. The Hurricanes finished the game with a
The Mystics fall to 5-2 and the Hurricanes moved to 5-2. The Mystics return to the court next week when they visit their crosstown rivals UKC Blue Devils on Friday November 29th. Tip off is at 6:00pm. The Hurricanes' next game will be next Friday November 29th when they travel to St. Thomas to face the Tommies. Game time will be at 6:00pm.