BRANDON – A dismal second quarter and struggles from the free-throw line hurt the Brandon Bobcats, as they fell to the visiting #7 nationally ranked Alberta Pandas Friday night.
The Bobcats got their first lead at 7:30 into the first quarter to lead 11-10.
Keisha Cox briefly caught fire late in the first, hitting three straight 3-pointers before
Aleah Bridges hit a running bank three as time expired in the first quarter. The Bobcats ended the first with a 10 point lead at 22-12. That's where things took a drastic turn.
The Pandas caught fire to start the second, while the Bobcats struggled offensively. Alberta went on a 12-0 run in the first five minutes of the frame, while the Bobcats went a full eight minutes before
Amy Williams scored Brandon's first basket with just under two minutes left in the half. Brandon mustered just three points in the second quarter to the Pandas 24.
The Bobcats battled back in the third, clawing a three point deficit at 44-41 with just under one minute left in the third. Alberta maintained the momentum, working back to a 10 point lead at 51-41.
Bobcats coach
Novell Thomas got his second technical at 5:05 left in the game after receiving his second technical foul, which provided a brief spark for the 'Cats – the very next play
Amy Williams converted a three-point play by hitting a lay-up and a free-throw to make the score 55-47 for Alberta. Brandon would hang around, as
Kaela Cranston hit a desperation jumper as the shot clock expired to get within three points (56-53) in the dying minutes, but the Pandas would not relent, earning the 64-54 win.
The Bobcats shot 15-for-28 (53.6 per cent) from the free-throw line, while neither team shot efficiently from the floor, the Pandas hitting 37.3 per cent of their shots to the Bobcats 30.9 per cent.
Four Pandas finished in double-digit scoring, led by Jessilyn Fairbanks' game-high 17 points. Megan Wickstrom and Brooklyn Legault both put up 12 points, while Maddie Rogers added 10 points.
Alyssa Montgomery led the Bobcats in scoring with 15 points, while
Amy Williams recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
The win improves Alberta's record 11-1, while the Bobcats slip to 5-6. The two teams will meet again Saturday in the second-half of the weekend series. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 pm.
