4-0 versus Rattlers on the weekend

COUGAR WOMEN

The Mount Royal University Cougars women’s basketball team mounted an impressive second-half comeback, erasing a nine point deficit after the half to claim their second straight win versus the Medicine Hat Rattlers, 73-69.

The Cougars, down 40-31 at the break, outscored the Rattlers by 13 points in the second-half, using a well balanced offensive attack that saw four players hit double-digits in points, including Emily Larson who had a game high 16 points.

Trailing by as much as 13 points with two minutes left in the second quarter, the Cougars scored four straight points to end the frame within nine.

Free-throw shooting was a cause for concern for the team in the first-half as they shot just 44 per cent from the stripe, but overcame their early struggles to finish at 60 per cent for the evening.

After a few second-half adjustments, including a larger emphasis on stopping the dribble penetration, according to head coach Joe Enevoldson, the Cougars looked more like the team the fans are accustomed to seeing.

Emily Larson would hit a pair of free throws late in the third-quarter, as the Cougars surged in the third frame, before former Cougar Stephanie Loubardeas would nail a big three pointer from the corner with one second remaining in the “Q”, to extend the Rattlers lead to 57-54.

Heading into the fourth-quarter, the Cougars would continue to press on both sides of the ball, eventually squaring up the game at 59-59 with just seven minutes remaining.
The two teams would trade baskets, until the score read 70-68 for the Cougars.

With Mount Royal inbounding from their own end line, an unsportsmanlike foul was called on the Rattlers, as a Medicine Hat player got tied up on a holding call on the play.

After a brief meeting between the officials, the foul was called, resulting in a pair of free-throws and possession at half for the Cougars.

Emily Larson would hit the pair from the line, extending the Cougars lead to four at 72-68 with just 45 seconds remaining.

The Cougars would defend well in the dying moments, stifling the Rattlers last ditch attempts at a comeback, ultimately coming through with a gutsy 73-69 victory.
Coach Enevoldson said it nice to get the win down the stretch.

“We obviously got it done when we needed to, and that was down the stretch in fourth quarter,” said Enevoldson. “I thought we were good on the offensive and defensive end late, but give Medicine Hat credit, they always play real hard. They’re very well coached and their kids never stop. You’ve got to be willing to outwork them and I think in the fourth quarter we did that, where as in the first three I’m not sure we did.”

Kristen Docherty was named Player of the Game for her 12 point, six rebound performance, while Danica Rybachuk was impressive adding 14 points and six rebounds of her own.

Enevoldson says the team will look to step up their rebounding; citing it as one of the team’s “core values” as they prepare for a two game set with the Lethbridge Kodiaks next weekend.

The Cougars will be back on home court, next Saturday, October 29th at 6:00 p.m.

COUGAR MEN

The Mount Royal University Cougars men’s basketball team was clutch when they needed to be, staking their second consecutive win against the Medicine Hat Rattlers 83-71.

After beating the Rattlers a night prior, 66-61, the Cougars looked like the dominate team, connecting on 49 per cent of their shots from the field, while limiting the visitors to just 35 per cent from the floor.

Nick Loewen was the game’s leading scorer, racking up 18 points and seven rebounds in claiming Player of the Game honours, while teammate Awet Abraha chipped in with 17 points in the win.

Head coach Marc Dobell thought his team improved on Friday night’s performance.
“I thought we played a little bit better than we did last night,” said Dobell.

“We scored the ball a lot better, which we struggled with a bit on Friday. I thought defensively, we played well both nights but I’m happy with the changes we made between the two games, I thought the guys responded well and it was good effort.”

Up 32-28 at half-time, the Cougars shone in the third-quarter, outscoring the Rattlers 25-15 to take a 14 point lead in the final frame.

Coach Dobell said the team made some adjustments in the locker room at half.

“We just talked about being aggressive and attacking,” said Dobell. “I thought we got a little bit passive in the second quarter and a little tentative, so we just reminded them to be proactive and space the floor and look to attack.”

The strategy certainly seemed to work.

In the fourth quarter, the Rattlers would battle back valiantly, cutting the lead to just three, at 58-55 with seven minutes remaining.

Nick Loewen would extend the lead back to six, with a clutch three pointer from the corner, but the Rattlers would answer back, connecting on a three of their own.

The two teams would trade barbs back-and-forth, with the score at 70-64 for the Cougars before guard Kyle Newman would put the icing on the cake, nailing another clutch trey-ball with time winding down to extend the lead to nine.

The Rattlers would fall short in their comeback attempts late, ultimately dropping 83-71, as the Cougs’ took home their second win of the season to extend their record to an early 2-0.
Shayne Stumpf was a beast on the glass, collecting a game high 11 rebounds, while also contributing five points on 2-4 from the field.

The Cougars will be back on home court, next Saturday, October 29th at 8:00 p.m. versus the Lethbridge College Kodiaks.

Congrats on the pair of wins!