Pearcey leads the Mystics past Blue Devils

(Halifax, NS) The Mount Saint Vincent Mystics defeated the visiting University of King's Blue Devils 80-37 at the A. Garnet Brown Memorial Gymnasium. 

Amanda Pearcey (Torbay, NL) led the Mystics' attack with 19 points, five rebounds, and three assists. She was supported by Celine Sterckel (Moncton, NB) with 15 points, seven rebounds, and two steals. Emma Garagan (Halifax, NS) came off the bench by chipping in 10 points and four rebounds. 

Riley MacDonald (Timberlea, NS) led the Blue Devils with 12 points, five rebounds and three assists. Norah Quinlan (St. John's, NL) finished with seven points and two rebounds for the Blue Devils. 

The Mystics opened up the game with quick 8-3 run, highlighted by a steal and layup from Emma Empringham (Sackville, NS). The early run forced the Blue Devils to call an early timeout to regroup. Out of the timeout, the Mystics had a strong lay-up from Pearcey (Torbay, NL), and she connected for the and-1 finish to extend the Mystics lead to 11-3. The Mystics controlled the quarter, capped off by a driving lay-up from Ashleigh Marshall (Fall River, NS) off an in-bound assist from Marley Curwin (Halifax, NS) to give the Mystics a 19-5 lead at the end of the quarter. 

The Blue Devils started the second quarter, looking to chip into the Mystics lead. Early in the quarter, they had a transition three from Norah Quinlan (St. John's, NL). The Mystics would response to the Blue Devils' attack with a transition three of their own from Curwin, assisted by Pearcey. The Mystics would extend their lead, as Garagan sank a three-pointer, with an assist from Keezaidra Smith (North Preston, NS). The Mystics closed out the quarter with a 41-16 halftime lead. 

The Mystics picked up their intensity to start the half with a 13-0 run. It was highlighted consecutive three-pointers by Sterckel (Moncton, NB) and Victoria Strickland (St. John's, NL). The Blue Devils looked for strong attacks to the basket, leading to various trips to the free throw line, where they would hit 6/10 free throws in the quarter. As the quarter progressed, the Mystics were able to extend their lead when Curwin had an up and under scoop lay-up. The Mystics would take the 63-28 lead into the fourth quarter. 

As the fourth quarter started, the Mystics came out strong with a three-point shot by Sterckel. The Blue Devils would respond with a bank three-pointer from Renée Thibault (Halifax, NS). Later in the quarter, the Mystics would make an entry pass to Empringham, who found Pearcey on a backdoor cut for a lay-up through contact. The Mystics would claim the victory over their crosstown rivals, as they won the game by a 80-37 margin. 

The Mystics move to 9-3, and they return to the court tomorrow as they host the first place Mount Allison Mounties. Tip off is at 6:00pm. The Blue Devils fall to 7-6, as they will travel to Fredericton to face the St. Thomas Tommies on Saturday, February 1. Tip off is at 6:00pm.