The Dalhousie university men’s and women’s basketball team fell to St. Francis Xavier in their home opener, with the men losing 69-63 and the women losing 70-63.
Both teams tipped off their seasons on Oct. 6 in Antigonish, N.S. where, similarly, both teams fell to their X rivals. The men’s team is coming off an Atlantic University Sport championship but after a summer that saw their three-top scorers leave the program, the Tigers have entered a new era of Dalhousie basketball. The women’s team is coming off a winless season but have found stars in Kaitlyn Ferrier and Sydney Guker-Wickie.
Women’s game
Ferrier was unable to lead the Tigers to victory despite dropping 22 points in the loss and adding four steals. StFX’s Kristine Cooper nearly matched Ferrier as she scored 19 points and six rebounds.
Both teams fought for any amount of breathing room in the first three quarters, until in the fourth StFX outscored Dal 24-15 which made the difference in the win.
With less than four minutes remaining, StFX’s Lauren Neeve’s three-point shot evened the score at 62. The Tigers were unable to box out the X-Women opposition as they made two critical offensive rebounds which resulted in Neeve making another three.
Dalhousie was now in do or die mode, but Cooper was able to ice the game on free throws and as the final buzzer rang StFX was on top with a score of 70-63.
X’s defence came up strong as in the last four minutes Dal was able to only score one point off a free throw.
Men’s game
After the women’s game concluded the men’s team entered the court.
The game was a rematch of last year’s AUS championship game as StFX looked to get their revenge after their overtime loss in March.
Dalhousie was unable to defend Gatluak Jamesas he bullied their paint defender all night which led to him collecting 25 points and five rebounds.
After the first quarter, the score was 17-15 in favour of the X-Men. A highlight of the quarter was Dal’s Austin Thomson tipping a rebound out to Lydell Husbands-Browne who then swished a three in front of the Dalhousie crowd.
StFX went on a run out of the new quarter with Keyonte Beals’ three pointer making it 28-21 with six minutes left in the quarter.
With Dalhousie trying to claw back, Caleb Stewart sent DJ Jackson’s layup into the front row. Stewart added two layups, the last having him tumble into the court’s sponsored mats.
Stewart had a phenomenal game, collecting 14 points and adding four blocks. When asked about the improvement of Stewart, Husbands-Browne said both Stewart and his twin Riley were in the gym all summer.
“That’s just kind of a testament to them,” Husbands-Browne said. “They’re grinders.”
Husbands-Browne ripped the ball from Jackson’s hands as he went up for a layup to make sure the teams headed to halftime with a 38-33 X-Men lead.
To start the quarter, Beals came out with a quick steal. A few possessions later Gatluak drove into the paint and used his 6-5 frame to bounce off the defender to scoop in the layup plus the foul.
Stewart rejected Matt Pennell’s layup on StFX’s last possession of the quarter but the X-Men still entered the final quarter with a 56-48 lead.
Off a missed free throw shot, James attempted to go up for a layup over his defender, but out of nowhere Husbands-Browne swatted the shot away to erupt the Dalplex faithful. Stewart followed by knocking down the corner three.
Husbands-Browne added another swat and in a crucial mistake, when StFX was shooting free throws, James was called for a technical foul. On the next possession Caleb Stewart knocked down a triple to tie the game at 63.
Husbands-Browne credited instincts for being the reasons he made two crucial blocks.
James however made up for it by scoring a layup over the 6-10 Thomson. With 49 seconds remaining the Tigers had a chance to take the lead, but Jackson stole the inbound and James scored a layup to put the game out of reach.
Beals knocked down both of his free throws to end the game with a 69-63 StFX win.
When asked about the game Husbands-Browne said the team lacked execution as they were unable to finish off the comeback.
Dal was able to hold X to shoot 16 percent from three-point range, however Husbands-Browne wasn’t happy about their offence.
“We scored 63 points, it’s not going to get it done,” Husbands-Browne said.
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