Shooting woes

Jon Kreiner wants his team to shoot from outside the arc.

In fact, seeing 30 or more three-point attempts a night would suit him just fine. But for the strategy to work, a few of them have to find their way to the bottom of the net. On Saturday, on Day 2 of the Thunder Selects CIS Holiday Classic, the Lakehead Thunderwolves women fired 32 three-point shots at the St. Francis Xavier net.

Only four counted.

“We have to shoot 30 threes if we’re going to be successful,” Kreiner said. “If we can hit even eight, nine, 10 of those today, then this was going to be a one-point game either way.”

But it was not to be.

Long-distance sharpshooter Kelsey Bardsley, coming off a bout with mononucleosis, hit just two of 11 attempts from beyond the arc; though to be fair at least four of those came in the final minutes as the Wolves strove to play catch-up against a St. FX team that rolled in eight straight points to start the second half, taking a two-point halftime leading and extending it to double digits.

“We kind of went to that in the end, with some side plays to Ayse,” Kreiner said.

Add in 29 offensive rebounds, 71 in total, by the X-Women, and it was just too much to overcome for the Wolves, who fell 71-63 at the Homburg Centre in Halifax, falling to 0-2 at the non-conference tournament combined with Friday’s lopsided loss to Dalhousie.

Ayse Kalkan, who valiantly tried to carry her teammates on her back with an 18-point, 12-rebound performance, said the rust is definitely showing after a month-long Christmas break.

“We’re definitely struggling from the three, but I think it will pick up tomorrow, hopefully,” said Kalkan, the only Thunderwolves player to hit double digits.

Defensively, the Wolves were a much better squad on Saturday than they were the night before, forcing 12 first-half turnovers.

Forward Winta Desta, who saw her role expanded with Jessica de Haan and Ashley Randall in foul trouble most of the contest, showed she was worth the wait.

Desta, who sat out last season, contributed eight points, also grabbing nine rebounds, blocking a shot and even coming up with a steal. Randall, who only managed 13 minutes, collected nine points and four boards, adding two blocks of her own.
Kreiner was happy with the production from his bench.

“We played with more energy and between Ashley Randall and Winta Desta they had 17 points. And late (Kelsey) scored some for us off the bench. We scored 25 points off the bench. We need to have some good scorers off the bench.

“And we need to have some inside play. And Winta really kept us in the game in the first half with blocked shots and rebounds. She has good length and if she can get a little more savvy and experience out there, I think she can start helping us a bit more,” Kreiner said.

Lakehead, who trailed the entirety of the Dalhousie game, actually took an early lead on Saturday, Jessica de Haan tying the score late in the first and Carolyn Fragale nailing a pair of free throws for a 15-13 LU lead.

Twice in the second quarter Lakehead took a four-point lead, but Fredericton, N.B.’s Rebecca Sheehan, who tied Kalkan with a game-high 18, scored on the fast break to give St. FX the 34-32 halftime lead.

Lindsay Lessard and Sheehan scored quick baskets to start the third and the X-Women led by seven after three.

Kalkan pulled the Wolves to within five, 66-61 with about 2:30 to play in regulation, but after St. FX turned the ball over, Bardsley missed a three, and LU, in the penalty, sent a steady stream of X-Women to the line for easy points.

Beyond the arc: The Wolves wrap up tourney action on Sunday against host Saint Mary’s, the fourth-ranked team in the CIS … The tournament is the brainchild of Thunder Selects founder Brandon Rafuse, a one-time Lakehead assistant coach who has sent current Thunderwolves Emily Lerette and Helena Steeves to LU … St. FX went to the free-throw line 39 times, hitting 24 attempts. Lakehead was just 13-24 from the charity stripe.