Charles named tournament all-star in 70-52 win

Game recap by: Kirk Jessome

(Halifax, NS) – In the final game of the Centennial Women's Basketball Tournament, the host Dalhousie Tigers faced the Windsor Lancers. In a strong defensive game, the Tigers came away with a 70-52 win to finish the tournament.

It was a battle of guards vs forwards throughout the first quarter, with Kayah Clarke (Hamilton, ON) knocking down jumpers throughout the quarter for the Lancers, while Robertha Charles (Montreal, QC) and Claire Hickman (St. John's, NL) getting it done on the inside for the Tigers.

Hickman picked up eight points for the Tigers in the final two minutes of the quarter to help push the team to a 12-point lead.

Tyra Blizzard (Ottawa, ON) was able to knock down a three to help bring the Lancers closer in the final seconds of the quarter, as they went into the break trailing 21-12.

The Tigers continued their run in the opening seconds of the second quarter with a deep three from Sophie Gaube (Hubley, NS), before a very tough and-one play by Blizzard ended the run.

The Lancers were slowly chipping away at the deficit throughout the second quarter with Clarke getting aggressive with takes to the hoop and being rewarded with easy lay-ins, or trips to the line.

Gaube knocked down another big three late in the half, but the Lancers put together the last six points of the quarter to go into the break only trailing 35-29.

The Lancers battled back into it right away at the start of the third quarter with the help of the three-ball. Clarke hit one first, followed by Carly Steer (Windsor, ON) knocking one down on the next possession to bring the Lancers within one.

The teams then both switched to an inside game with Robertha Charles making nice moves in the low post for the Tigers, while Clarke slashed to the hoop and forced fouls for Windsor.

Charles took over for the Tigers in the third, picking up 11 points in the quarter by finishing through contact and knocking down shots from the line.

The inside game helped the Tigers slowly build a lead in the quarter, heading into the fourth up 56-41.

The interior game continued to be effective for the Tigers throughout the fourth quarter, picking up second chance points and getting to the line, but the three from Steer let the Lancers hang around.

Some cold shooting and turnovers from the Lancers were costly in the fourth quarter as the Tigers opened up a 16-point lead with just under five minutes to go.

The Tigers were able to dribble out the clock and take a 70-52 win to end the tournament.

The tournament all-stars were announced following the game. For the Lancers it was Kayah Clarke, who finished with a team-high 21 points and 3 rebounds. The Tigers selection was Robertha Charles, who finished with a game-high 26 points, 4 rebounds and 3 steals in the win.