By Willie Cole

The Briercrest women’s basketball team opened the game with a stellar half-court defense, holding Saint Mary's to four points while taking an 8 to 4 lead. The Briercrest women also dominated the offensive boards early on with multiple accounts of second-chance points from Amy Wanvig.

Tracy Frimpong demonstrated tremendous defensive intensity in the first half in getting multiple steals resulting in Briercrest fast-break points. A steal by Kennedy Sawatzky led to a fast-break lay-up from Brooke Briscoe to give Briercrest an 18-9 lead with six minutes left in the first half. Briercrest increased their lead to 17 at 27-10 from a lay-up and assist from Krista Wiens and two three-pointers from Meghan Friesen and Nicole Meyer. Effective half-court precision from Briercrest awarded them with a 32-13 lead at half-time. While both teams struggled with their shooting percentage in the first half, Briercrest out-shot Saint Mary's by shooting 32.4% from the field compared to Saint Marys' 15.4%. Briercrest also had five more offensive rebounds than Saint Mary's in the first-half resulting in multiple second-chance opportunities. Claire Richardson and Amy Wanvig led the way with those offensive boards.

Saint Mary's attempted to crawl back into the game on two early field goals from point guard Leah Loeppky. Briercrest nonetheless continued to contain their lead by both getting to the foul line and finding Meghan Friesen for the open three. Briercrest increased their lead to 27 at the end of the third quarter with a score of 48-21.

Briercrest continued to get open shots and get to the foul line in the fourth quarter while also demonstrating outstanding defensive pressure, holding Saint Mary's to only 27 total points. The Briercrest Clippers ended up winning by a final score of 67-27. Players of the game were Amber Smith for Saint Mary's with 20 points and 8 rebounds, and Tracy Frimpong for Briercrest with 9 points, game high three steals, and a whopping game high 18 rebounds. Frimpong's hustle was critical to Briercrest's success throughout the game.

Other leaders for Briercrest were Amy Wanvig with a game high 16 points to go with 10 rebounds, Kennedy Sawtzky with a game high four assists and Meghan Friesen with 14 points and one of he only two blocks in the game. Brooke Briscoe also chipped in with 10 points and Claire Richardson had the only other block in the game.

Briercrest led in every facet of the game; 53 rebounds to St. Mary’s 43, six three point shots made to St. Mary’s one, shot 33.3% from the field compared to 18.3%, won the assist battle 15-3, blocks 2-0 and steals 19-8.

Briercrest and St. Mary’s tip-off again Saturday, November 30 at 6:00pm in the Margaret P. Reimer Memorial gymnasium.

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