Curwin leads Mystics past Blue Devils

(Halifax, NS) The Mount Saint Vincent Mystics defeated the University of King's College Blue Devils 81-56 at the A. Garnet Brown Memorial Gymnasium. 

Marley Curwin (Halifax, NS) lead the charge for the Mystics, as she finished with a game-high 25 points, seven rebounds and one steal. Victoria Strickland (St. John's, NL) would finish the game with 15 points and two rebounds. Jenna Matheson (Halifax, NS) came off the bench for the Mystics with a strong two-way effort, as she tallied 10 points and five steals. 

Alex Soyko (Prince Albert, SK) finished with a team-high 12 points, and three steals. Arek Akeg (Ottawa, ON) chipped in 10 points, four assists, and four rebounds in a well-rounded performance for the Blue Devils. Lauren Ford (Sackville, NS) tallied nine points and a game-high 11 rebounds for the Blue Devils. 

As the first quarter opened, the Mystics struck first as Ashleigh Marshall (Fall River, NS) crashed the offensive glass for an extra possession that led to a three-pointer from Curwin. The Blue Devils would respond with a lay-up from Soyko. Mystics answered with a highlight play from Curwin, as she euro-stepped through the Blue Devils for the uncontested lay-up. As the quarter progressed, the Blue Devils would capitalize on lay-up from Soyko, that was assisted by Riley MacDonald (Timberlea, NS). Matheson came off the bench for the Mystics and provided a spark as she tallied 2 points and had her hand in passing lanes as she recorded two steals. The Blue Devils continued to search for an answer as the quarter closed. Renee Thibault (Halifax, NS) would hit a buzzer beating three-point as the time expired to tie the game up at 15. 

Keezaidra Smith (North Preston, NS) made her presence felt early in the second quarter as her quick hands led to a Mystics steal and she was able to finish with a lay-up on the possession. Matheson would continue to provide a spark for the Mystics as she impacted play on the defensive end. She added another two steals which allowed the Mystics extra possessions throughout the quarter. They would extend their lead as Strickland would execute from deep as she received an assist from Smith. Amanda Pearcey (Torbay, NL) finished at the rim off of a no-look pass from Kaleigh Coco (Kingston, ON). As the quarter continued, the Mystics would extend their lead to 46-24 at the half. 

As the second half play started, the Blue Devils executed on their opening possession when Akeg skipped the ball to the corner for a Norah Quinlan (St. John's, NL) triple. On their next possession, the Blue Devils connected from deep as Aidan MacLeod (Wolfville, NS) hit her triple. The Mystics would respond to the flurry of threes with a three of their own when Curwin hit from three-point range. The Blue Devils attempted to cut into the Mystics' lead as Akeg would finish at the rim through contact for the and-one finish, followed by Soyko three-pointer. The Mystics would respond late as Strickland would hit from range, followed by a lay-up from Pearcey. The Mystics would take a 60-41 lead into the final quarter. 

The Blue Devils opened the quarter as they looked to close the Mystics' gap as Akeg would connect from the mid-range, followed by another mid-range from Soyko, which led to the Mystics' timeout. As the Mystics regrouped, Pearcey would connect on a three out of the timeout. The Mystics would continue to control the quarter and closed out the Blue Devils by a score of 81-56. 

It was Senior Night at the A. Garnet Brown Memorial Gymnasium as the Mystics acknowledged Amanda Pearcey, Ashleigh Marshall and Marley Curwin prior to tip-off. 

The Mystics closed out their 2024-25 season with a 15-3 record, as they clinched the number one seed in the ACAA championships in Saint John, NB, which take place Friday, February 28th through Sunday, March 2nd. The Blue Devils dropped 7-11 and finished the season in fifth place. Their next game is to be determined after the regular season play is completed this weekend.