The Laurentian Lady Vees basketball team entered their final game at the BDO Dunwoody Classic in search of a tournament title, but unfortunately the University of Alberta Pandas capitalized on a five minute lapse in intensity to defeat the Laurentian women by a score of 71-65.
Four Lady Vees scored in double figures including Darrah Bumstead and Katie Goggins who led all LU scorers with 12 points each.
For the third consecutive day the Laurentian Lady Vees found themselves across the court from a very formidable opponent and responded to the challenge right from the opening tip.
The Lady Vees continued their strong defensive play holding
Alberta to just 31 per cent from the field
and 16.7 per cent from the three-point range. The Vees
responded on offense finding their stroke from the field making
49.8-percent of their shots.
The Laurentian women may have won three out of four quarters on Sunday, however, it was a five minute lapse in the second quarter that allowed the Pandas to build a 12 point lead at the half and win their only quarter of the game.
The Lady Vees put on a valiant second half effort continuing to play stingy defence and executing well on offence, but unfortunately this was not enough as the University of Alberta Pandas registered 24 offensive rebounds en route to a 71-65 victory and the tournament title.
The Lady Vees once again had a balanced attack with four players registering in double figures including Bumstead (New Hamburg, Ont.) who recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, Goggins (Hanmer, Ont.) tallying 12 points and four rebounds, Norma-Jean Roberts (Burnaby, B.C.) with 11 points and Amanda McConnell with 10 points and five rebounds.
"The girls played hard," said Lady Vees assistant coach Scott MacWhirter, in a release. "We just didn't compete hard enough for a five minute stretch in the second quarter and dug ourselves a hole that in the end we could not get out of."
"Overall we are very happy with the way the team is playing, especially this early in the year," added MacWhirter.
The Lady Vees will now continue training as they prepare for their next pre-season game against their alumni team on Saturday, October 18th at 4 p.m. at the Ben Avery Gym.
