Thunderwolves late charge earns berth in tournament final

HALIFAX -- In a contest that almost got away, the Lakehead Thunderwolves found their defensive game just in time.

The Wolves rallied from six points down after three quarters on Monday, outscoring their OUA rival Brock Badgers 24-11 in the final period to snatch a berth in Tuesday’s Thunder Selects Holiday Classic women's basketball final in Halifax thanks to an 81-74 triumph.

Forward Katelyn Andrea, who played a key role in a 10-0 Lakehead run to start the fourth, with a pair of baskets and a steal that led to the game-tying bucket, said she and her teammates lost focus at the half and had to scramble to find it as the game wound down.

“In the third quarter we weren’t playing tough defence. Our defence really is what was lacking. In the fourth quarter we really stepped up our defence and that’s probably what gave us the win,” said Andrea, a St. Ignatius High School graduate in her second season with the Thunderwolves.

“It’s hard to keep our team going when confidence is down. But when we hit those first 10 points we were just rolling throughout the fourth quarter.”

Lakehead coach Jon Kreiner, whose team will face Ottawa in the tournament final, said the Badgers showed a day prior they are a strong third-quarter team, scoring 33 points against Dalhousie to earn a 19-point win over a tough Tigers squad.

“We talked to our team about that and the number of times this year that Brock will come out aggressive. They make some nice adjustments,” Kreiner said, admitting he was disappointed his team had to leave their man coverage system in favour of a zone defence, in part because the Badgers kept dropping three pointers.

It’s what cost Lakehead the lead moments after the second half began.

Jena Yumol, who finished with 18 to lead the Badgers, and Kayla Santilli hit back-to-back threes to erase the LU advantage.

Locked in a 50-50 tie, Missy Tatti took over late in the third, scoring a quick seven points to push the Badgers in front 59-53.

But Jylisa Williams wasn’t about to let Brock to start thinking about an upset.

Williams, the nation’s leading scorer, scored twice before the period ended and then quickly to start the fourth, trimming the Badgers lead to four. Before the fourth was 80 seconds old the Thunderwolves tied the contest 63-63, then took the lead for good off an Andrea steal.

Williams would finish with 33, three better than her season average, to go along with a dozen rebounds. Three times Brock made it a one-possession game down the stretch, but the Wolves responded each and every time, rookie Bridget O’Reilly sealing it with a clutch three and a quick steal to end the Badgers threat.

Andrea said she’s hoping a good result in the final can lead to bigger and better things down the road for the Thunderwolves.

“We’re not really a big name in basketball, but we’re going to be this year,” Andrea said.

The Wolves (4-3) and Badgers (3-4) will open OUA second-half play on Jan. 9 at the Thunderdome.

Beyond the arc: Williams was limping slightly after the game, which Kreiner ascribed to muscle spasms.