Capers win thriller down the stretch over X-Women

Antigonish, NS - In a battle down to the wire, the first place Cape Breton University Capers (8-1) eked out a 50-46 victory over the StFX X-Women (0-10) Tuesday evening in Atlantic University Sport basketball action at Oland Centre.

Early in the game, both teams struggled to get on the scoreboard, with the home side taking an 11-10 lead after the first quarter.

The Capers started the second quarter on a 6-0 run. After a three-pointer from Natasha Roach (Roxboro, QC), the visitors were up 19-15.

For the X-Women, forward Sammie Amoh (Scarborough, ON) collected an offensive rebound and then made a buzzing-beating lay-up to cut the Caper lead to 29-25 at halftime.

In the third quarter, Cape Breton took a 34-29 advantage after five minutes.

Later in the frame, after a Jalynn Skeir (Halifax, NS) shot from beyond the arc, the Capers took their largest edge - 42-31.

Veteran forward Colleen Keane, the Subway player of the game, meshed seven points in the closing minutes of the third to help the Capers take a 42-33 heading to the fourth quarter.

Keyed by a spinning drive to the basket from player of the game Korenda Colley (Dartmouth, NS) and a three-pointer from Chelsea Provo (East Preston, NS), the X-Women made a 9-1 run to start the fourth quarter to trim the Caper lead to 45-42.

After the X-Women pulled within three points, both teams went scoreless for a three-minute stretch.

With just over one minute remaining in regulation, all-Canadian Alison Keough (Marion Bridge, NS) made a lay-up that gave the Capers a 47-43 edge.

The X-Women responded, with freshman shooting guard Jessica Miller (Mount Denson, NS) nailing a three-pointer from the corner to slice the Caper lead to one point.

On the next possession, Keane made one of two free throws to make it 48-46.

After another defensive stop - the X-Women held the Capers to eight points and a 7.1 per cent free-throw percentage in the fourth quarter - they had a chance to tie the contest, but Holly Scott (Antigonish,  NS) could not hit a tough jump shot.

Keough wrapped up the scoring with a lay-up with less than five seconds remaining.

For the Capers, Keough finished with a double-double - a game-high 13 points and 11 rebounds, while adding two steals. Keane also collected a double-double - 10 points and 10 rebounds, while chipping in four steals and two assists.

Provo led the X-Women with 12 points, while adding five rebounds, one assist and one steal. Colley contributed six points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals. Kim Taylor (Toronto, ON) corralled 10 rebounds and scored six points.

The Capers will return to action Friday, Jan. 13, when they host the UPEI Panthers in Sydney.

The X-Women will be back on the court Saturday, Jan. 14, when they welcome the Panthers to Antigonish.

Tip-off for both match-ups is 6 p.m.

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