TORONTO – Leashja Grant is delivering as advertised.
The ex-NCAA forward scored 25 points and grabbed 14 rebounds on Saturday night and led the Lakehead Thunderwolves to a come-from-behind 69-63 triumph over the host York Lions to even their record at 1-1.
It’s a game the Wolves led twice by a 10-point second-half margin, only to see the Lions start a 14-0 run late in the third and carry it over into the final frame.
But LU finished strong, going on a 16-6 run of their own down the stretch to claim victory on the road.
Grant hit a pair of free throws to pull the Thunderwolves within one, then two more to give them the lead for good.
Bridget O’Reilly and Lily Gruber-Schulz hit back-to-back jumpers to extend the led to five and after a pair of Lindsay Shotbolt jumpers pulled the Lions within a point, O’Reilly drained a three to put the contest out of reach in the final minute of regulation.
Gruber-Schulz finished with 13 for the Wolves, O’Reilly and Jerika Baldin also hitting double digits for the Thunderwolves.
Nikki Ylagen had eight off the bench, shortened to just three players Saturday night because of injuries.
