Game Nine: Saturday March 20, 2010 10:00am

Dawson College vs. UBC Okanagan

Score: 62-57
Winner: Dawson College

In the first bronze medal semi-final, the BC champion UBC Okanagan Heat faced the Quebec champion Dawson Blues. The Heat advanced after a 68-45 win over Camosun yesterday, while the Blues ended up here after losing to Atlantic champion Mount Saint Vincent in the championship semi-final last night. The winner of this game would go on to play the winner of the SAIT vs. Sheridan College match-up following this game for the bronze medal.

Dawson beat the Sainte-Foy Dynamiques to win the Quebec title, and Sainte-Foy beat UBC O in the opening round, so it didn't look good for the Heat going in. UBC O had difficulties matching up with the physical Dynamiques, and the Blues were at least as physical as Sainte-Foy. For the Heat to advance to the bronze-medal s they would have to find a way to overcome a style of play with which they were unfamiliar.

Things didn't look good for the home team in the early stages as the Blues jumped off to an 11-4 advantage, but Madison Kaneda and company battled hard to close the gap to 15-11 by the end of the first quarter, and tied it up at 17 early in the second. Dawson started to build a lead from this point on and extended it to 32-23 before an Allison Werner jumper closed the gap to 32-25 at the half.

The Heat struggled from the floor in the first half, converting only 27.6% of their field goal attempts, while they also had difficulties containing the Blues Marilene Lapierre who posted 16 points in the half.

The Heat came out strong in the second half, scoring the first eight points to take a one point lead over the Blues. Unfortunately the lead would b

e short-lived as Dawson came back to take a 47-41 advantage heading into the final quarter. The Blues would build on that lead in the fourth, taking a 54-46 advantage midway through the quarter, however, the Heat would come alive late in the frame led by a Kaneda three-pointer to come to within two points, 55-57. Meghan McGill would twice have an opportunity to tie the game for the Heat from the free throw line, only to sink one of two free throws each time, leaving her team down a point. Her second opportunity would make the score 57-58 with 34 seconds to go, but the Blues would prove to be effective at the free-throw line down t

he stretch, causing the Heat to have to convert a three-pointer in their final possession to force overtime. With 12.2 seconds, and three legitimate three-point threats on the floor the Heat took off, but Bailey Radley rushed the shot and came up with nothing but air as the Blues took control of the ball and the game to walk away with a 62-57 victory and a spot in the bronze medal game.

Meghan McGill was named Player of the Game in her final appearance for the Heat following a strong 11 point, 12 rebound game, while Janice Quintos received the honour for Dawson in the wake of her 12 point, 5 assist, 3 steal performance.
With the loss the Heat's season comes to a close as they finish in 5th place in the nation, while the Blues move on to play the winner of the SAIT/Sheridan game.

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Last reviewed 5/31/2010 7:23:13 PM