The St. Thomas University basketball teams competed in the ninth annual Ken Gould tournament at the Lady Beaverbrook Gymnasium from Oct. 18 to 20. The women’s team went 2-1 while the men’s team went 3-0.
Women’s team
Bridget Frazee led the way for the Tommies in the opening game, scoring 18 points with four three-pointers, leading her team to a 72-53 win over the Champlain-Lennoxville College Cougars.
STU pressured the Cougars and forced them to turn the ball over 27 times. Tommies’ forward Madison Owens recorded three steals.
The Tommies continued the next day, taking on the Mount Saint Vincent University Mystics.
The Tommies led 12-10 after the first quarter but lost their lead after a shaky second quarter. The Mystics led at halftime 31-18.
Tommies head coach Fred Connors said his team struggling to handle the ball played a part in losing their lead.
The Tommies were able to cut their 20 point deficit to nine but were unable to complete a comeback. The Mystics ran away with the game, cruising to a 57-37 win.
Connors said his team was getting the shots they wanted but were unable to execute.
“When you have an opportunity to score, I mean you got to score. We missed two wide open layups in the fourth quarter.”
STU shot 12-66 from the field.
Kassidy Hamilton and Abby Draper led the team, scoring eight points each.
The Tommies capped off the weekend with a 60-35 victory over the Mount Allison University Mounties.
Frazee led the game, scoring 14 points while Vanessa Soffee scored 10 points while picking up seven rebounds and four assists.
Frazee and Kassidy Hamilton were named tournament all-stars.
Men’s team
Ian Watters was the hero in the Tommies’ matchup against the Mounties. With the scored tied at 77 and the clock winding down, Watters was able to maneuver away from three defenders and bank in a shot at the buzzer.
The shot capped off a late rally by the Tommies after being down by as many as 11 points with five minutes left in play.
“I was able to split the defenders and get a good look but I never would have been in the situation if it wasn’t for the other guys on the team stepping up in the fourth quarter,” Watters said.
The Tommies won 79-77 with Watters and Geoffrey Lavoie scoring 16 points while Michael Otoo attributed 13 off the bench.
STU came away with another win on the first day of the tournament against the Cougars with a score of 85-73.
Almin Dervisevic led the way with a 20-point performance, nailing five three pointers and grabbing eight rebounds. Daemen Hemphill netted 15 of his own.
STU finished their weekend with another win, beating the University of New Brunswick Seawolves 79-55.
Lavoie had a double-double, scoring 20 points and grabbing 14 rebounds.
