Broncos unable to overcome early St. Mary’s lead

The Olds College Broncos women's basketball team lost 75-66 to the St. Mary's University Lightning in the Local School Appreciation Night Saturday, Feb. 22 at the Ralph Klein Centre.

The teams started the game going back and forth with St. Mary's taking an 8-7 lead off a free throw with a little over four minutes left in the first quarter. St. Mary's continued to build their lead after that making it 11-7 before the Broncos responded. The team exchanged baskets and St. Mary's held a 19-15 advantage after one quarter.

The Broncos went on a run to start the second quarter, tying the score at 19-19 a minute into the game before Macyn Morning Bull brought them to a 20-19 lead from the free throw line. Moments later Brittney Thibeaux made the score 22-20 off a great post move and basket. The teams exchanged lead with Olds holding a 29-25 lead half way through the quarter. Alice-Fay Pitts made a fantastic play under the basket to make the score 31-25 moments later.  St. Mary's took a timeout at 33-30 for Olds. A brilliant Brandi Thibeaux fade-away basket made the score 37-34 for Olds and forced a St. Mary's timeout. St. Mary's Emily Wagner scored a basket and then two free-throws to give St. Mary's a 38-37 lead after one half.

The teams went back and forth to start the second half, with the teams exchanging leads throughout until St. Mary's took a 45-41 lead. Emily Wagner continued to lead St. Mary's, bringing the score to 51-42 and forcing another Broncos timeout. The teams went back to exchanging baskets, with St. Mary's extending the lead to 59-46 and forcing a timeout which Michaela Allen-Gullion made a nice pass to Alice-Fay Pitts for a nice bucket under the basket. St. Mary's responded with a basket of their own. St. Mary's extended their lead to 65-50 to end the third quarter.

The Broncos went on a run in the last quarter to make the score 69-61 halfway through the quarter. But, St. Mary's pushed back and increased their lead back to 73-61. The Broncos cut the lead to 73-66  off a Michaela Allen-Gullion with 1:57 left in the game, but were unable to cut into the lead the remainder of the game fell 75-66.

The Player of the Game for St. Mary's was Emily Wagner with a game high 31 points to go with four assists. And, the Broncos Pit Barbeque Player of the Game was Macyn Morning Bull with a team high 17 points and game high 15 rebounds.

The Broncos led the game in rebounds 43-32, assists 19-16, steals 7-4 and blocks 3-2. Game leaders for Broncos were Brittney Thibeaux with a team tying 17 points and a game high two blocks, Brandi Thibeaux with a game high nine assists, and Michaela Allen-Gullion with three steals.

The Broncos host Ambrose University Saturday, February 29 at 6:00 pm for Graduating Student-Athlete night.

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