Lightning fall victim to Nomades
St. Mary’s now aiming for bronze at CCAA women’s basketball championship
It was a fast-paced, high energy game that ultimately got away from the St. Mary’s Lightning of Calgary, who dropped their opening Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association national women’s basketball championship game to the Montmorency Nomades 76-58.
The Lightning had little answer for the Nomades’ rebounding strength and height. Consistent inside pressure opened up spacing for their lethal three-point shooters in Sackville, N.B.
It was a determined performance by the Lightning, who were able to hang in the game thanks to a committee effort and a strong opening half from Montana Romeril, Megan Trisevic and Kassandra Baptiste, who saw the women from St. Mary ’s enter the second half trailing the Nomades by 10.
“The game came down to the little things that we talked about all year,” said Lightning head coach Steve Shoults. “The fundamentals — boxing out, finishing layups — we didn’t do those things, and it finally came back and caught us.
“At the national level, you’re playing the best teams in the country and you have to take care of all the little details to win, and we didn’t. So we have to regroup and get a win (Friday).”
Although the result wasn’t what Shoults or his team wanted, Shoults feels his team was well prepared and ready to go.
“The girls looked confident and played confident but just didn’t take care of the details,” Shoults said. “They didn’t look intimidated or nervous, just didn’t execute as we could have.”
Shoults emphasized there is no time for the Lightning to be down on themselves after the loss, as the team still has a chance to compete for the bronze medal, but it will need a victory Friday morning against the Mount St. Vincent Mystics of Halifax.
“We came here to play for a medal. Unfortunately, it won’t be gold, but we still have the opportunity to get a bronze, so we have to put (Thursday) behind us and refocus,” Shoults said.
“If we take care of our own business, the chips will fall where they may, and I like our chances.”
It’s been a roller-coaster of a season for the Lightning, one which has seen them overcome various challenges en route to an Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference gold medal and a trip to the national championship.
“This year has been incredible,” Shoults said. “We’ve had to face a lot of obstacles, but that is why I feel good about our chances.
“Things haven’t always gone our way and the girls have bounced back all year, and I expect to do that against Mount St. Vincent.”
“At the national level, you’re playing the best teams in the country and you have to take care of all the little details to win, and we didn’t.