Capers defeat X-Women at the buzzer

(ANTIGONISH, N.S.) - An Alison Keough buzzer-beating lay-up in overtime gave the visiting Cape Breton University Capers (6-3) a thrilling 66-65 win over the StFX X-Women (3-7) Tuesday night at Oland Centre in Atlantic University Sport (AUS) women's basketball play.

With five seconds remaining in the extra session, freshman Keishia Lespoir drove the lane before dishing to her fellow rookie Keough for the wide open, uncontested basket.

Keough forced overtime with her hoop at the buzzer to end regulation, tying the score 58-58.

In overtime, Vanessa Pickard led the X-Women with five of her game-high 21 points.

The X-Women missed five free throws in OT.

Keough finished with 12 points and nine rebounds, while Subway Player of the Game Colleen Keane collected 10 points, 15 rebounds, four assists and four steals.

Tanira McClurkin led the Capers with 20 points, while Lespoir added 10 points and six assists.

For the X-Women, Kolbi Roper scored a double-double – 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Antigonish native Melissa Gottschall contributed seven points, four assists and two steals off the bench.

The Capers jumped to a 9-2 lead in the first quarter on the strength of six points from freshman post player Alison Keough.

Sparked by an old-fashioned three-point play by Gottschall, the X-Women made a 17-3 run to take a 19-12 advantage in the second quarter.

A three-point shot by Pickard gave the X-Women a 24-14 lead. The blue and white took a 10-point margin over the Capers on three occasions in the opening half.

The X-Women return to action Friday, Jan. 17 when they travel to Halifax to face the Dalhousie Tigers, while the Capers will host the CIS No. 1-ranked Saint Mary's Huskies Saturday, Jan. 18 at Sullivan Field House in Sydney.

Source: StFX Sports Information