McCarville back in playoff hunt at Scotties

After a slow start, Krista McCarville, Kari Lavoie, Sarah Lang and Ashley Miharija are back in the thick of things at the Ontario Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Waterloo.

The Thunder Bay rink scored a 7-6 win Tuesday night over Julie Hastings, improving to 3-2 and three-way tie for third place with Hastings and former champion Sherry Middaugh.

Middaugh took out North Bay’s Kendra Lilly 9-4 in other Draw 5 action.

McCarville trailed 3-2 after five ends, but scored three in the sixth to take a 5-3 lead. Hastings tied the match in the seventh, but gave up the hammer.

The two teams traded points in the eighth and ninth, McCarville scoring one in the 10th to earn the victory, her third straight after opening with a pair of losses to defending champion Tracy Horgan and Middaugh.

Thunder Bay’s Marlo Dahl (0-5) is still looking for her first win at the provincial women’s curling championship. Dahl fell 7-4 to the Jill Mouzar rink.

Cathy Auld and Rachel Homan continue to lead the pack at 5-0. Homan slammed Jacqueline Harrison 8-1, while Auld dropped Horgan (2-3) 7-4.

McCarville takes on Mouzar on Tuesday afternoon, while Dahl tangles with Homan.