WBB Weekend Recap | February 22 & 23, 2019
The Lakeland Rustlers women's basketball team swept the University of Alberta - Augustana Vikings over the weekend in the final weekend of ACAC regular season play.
The Rustlers were in Camrose Friday night to take on the Vikings. It was a tight, high scoring 1st quarter with neither team being able to separate themselves from the other. At the end of the 1st quarter, the Rustlers led 24-22. The high scoring continued for Lakeland in the 2nd quarter as they put up 26 points to Augustana's 16, for a 50-38 halftime lead. The Rustlers cooled off a bit in the second half, after shooting over 50% from the field and 65% from three in the first.
The Vikings were able to cut into the Rustlers lead in the third, but Lakeland still led 62-53 heading into the fourth. In the final quarter, the Rustlers extended their lead to as many as 16 in the quarter, but a late push by the Vikings cut it to 9. The Vikings wouldn't get any closer as the Rustlers came away with the 74-65 win.
Leading the Rustlers was 2nd year forward Bilge Topaloglu, who finished with 18 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists, impacting the game on both ends of the court, while third-year guard Tori Dugan added 12 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists. Player of the game for the Rustlers was third-year guard Angela Baran, who finished with 12 points and 2 rebounds.
Saturday night, the team faced off in Lloydminster in front of a large crowd of Rustlers fans. Playing the last game in front of their home crowd, the Rustlers jumped out to an early 11-1 lead. The Rustlers would lead the Vikings 17-4 after the 1st quarter, thanks to 8 points on 6/6 shooting from the free throw line by second-year guard Hailey Somers. The momentum continued for Lakeland in the second as they would outscore Augustana 20-10 in the quarter, and take a 37-14 lead at the half.
The Vikings began to find their scoring touch in the 3rd, scoring 18 points in the quarter, but the Rustlers continued to dominate, putting up 29 points in the quarter and lead 66-32 after three. In the 4th quarter, the Rustlers were able to play their bench, resting their starters for the upcoming ACAC championships. The Vikings would outscore the Rustlers by 9 in the quarter, but Lakeland still came away with the convincing 80-55 win.
The Rustlers were led by Somers, who finished the game with 17 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists, earning her player of the game. Third-year guard Meg Ferraz had 14 points, 4 rebounds and an assist off the bench, while second-year guard Kaitlyn Tonita added 11 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, a steal, and a block.
The Rustlers finished the regular season with a 17-7 record, earning them 1st place in the ACAC North Division standings. Even more impressive is that the Rustlers have won 8 straight games and 14 of their last 16 dating back to the 1st semester.
The Rustlers will travel to Fort McMurray for the ACAC Women's Basketball Championships from February 28 – March 2. Lakeland will play the #4 seed from the South Division, the St. Mary's Lightning, in the quarter-final matchup which is set for Thursday at 1 pm.