EDMONTON - A 25-12 fourth quarter led to a huge 70-65 comeback win for the Calgary Dinos over the Alberta Pandas in a rivalry contest Friday night at the Saville Centre.
It was an incredibly exciting game, one that featured a dominant performance from Pandas fifth-year Emma Kary who entered the Pandas record books with a career-best 35 point performance which was good for the third best in the program's history.
The Dinos featured four scorers in double digits in what was an impressive depth showing for their offence. Three players, including fifth-year Dinos guard Mackenzie Trpcic scored a team-high 15 points.
It was a remarkable comeback for the visitors, who were trailing for almost 37 of the 40 full game minutes. They were able to hold the Pandas to just a 33.8 percent mark from the field, and while their offensive showing was not much better they were able to hit an impressive 19 of 24 attempts from the line.
The win keeps the Dinos undefeated on the young season at 3-0, while the Pandas slide to 2-1 with their first loss.
Kary and the Pandas got off to a roaring start in this rivalry match, beginning the game on a 10-2 run of which Kary accounted for 8 Alberta points. Both teams played active on the defensive end early to prevent the score from running up, however Calgary would take advantage of Alberta in the paint near the end of the quarter leading to six of seven free throws being hit. Storie would tie for the Dino quarter-high with six points, three from the line, while Kary would lead all scorers with 12. The Pandas exited the frame with a slim 20-19 lead.
A quick five points from Kary to start the second quarter had the Pandas building a lead; at the halfway point they would lead the Dinos 31-25. While Calgary would maintain their active defence, forcing seven Pandas turnovers in the quarter, they would also get into some foul trouble sending the hosts to the line 11 times. Calgary's second-year guard Amelie Collin paced the visitors with six points in the quarter, while Kary had another quarter-high of nine.
The Pandas would enter the half up 38-33, but ineffective shooting and good Dinos defence prevented the lead from ballooning. Alberta shot just 36.8 percent from the field, while going 6/11 from the stripe leaving a few points on the floor. The visitors shot 40.7 percent from the field while shooting an impressive 9/11 from the line in the half.
It was a tight third quarter, with the Pandas maintaining their advantage outscoring the Dinos 15-12. Kary again paced all scorers with nine points in the quarter, while the visitors were led by a six point quarter from Annacy Palmer who hit a big three to stop an Alberta run in its tracks.
The game led to an exciting fourth quarter where the Dinos clawed their way back thanks to great play on both ends of the floor. The quarter started with a quick 5-0 run from Calgary to cut the Pandas lead to just three. The teams would trade baskets for the majority of the quarter, showing facets of what made both teams undefeated coming into the contest.
With 1:30 left in the game, Dinos guard Trpcic found a cutting Louise Rouse for an easy layup to tie the game up at 65. Rouse would find herself in the spotlight once more, with 30 seconds left she hit two free throws to put the Dinos up 67-65 a lead which they would not relinquish. Three free throws in the bonus later the visitors exited the Saville Centre with an exciting 70-65 win.
The teams will battle again tomorrow night at the Saville Centre in the last regular season matchup between the squads.
