OLDS- On November 24 the Olds College Broncos (4-3) extended their winning streak to four games, taking down the Red Deer College Queens (2-5) 88-77.
Kristina Bajovic played the best game of her young Broncos career, putting 36 points on the board, shooting 14-26 from the floor including 3-7 shooting from beyond the arc.
ACAC point per game leader Brittney Thibeaux played a quiet game by her standards for the first three quarters, but was essential when the Broncos needed her most in the fourth, dominating under the bucket and assuring the Broncos a win when the outcome appeared up in the air. Thibeaux also recorded 11 rebounds for the double-double.
Meanwhile on the Queens side of the court, the deep ball kept the Queens in the contest going into the fourth quarter. Paige Shultz knocked down 5-11 looks from the three point line, finishing the game with 19 points.
The Broncos came out hot right out of the game, beginning the game on an 8-2 run. Bajovic was the first quarter story, knocking down four of her eight looks for a quarter-high 9 points. The Queens rallied late in the quarter but went into the second down 23-17.
The Queens made their mark in the second frame using the deep ball, using quick and crisp passes to give Maya Parker and Shultz good looks which they often delivered on. The Queens ended the half down 37-42.
The Queens continued their hot shooting in the second half, shutting down the Broncos offense almost completely in the third frame. With Alice-Fay Pitts sidelined for most of the quarter with an ankle injury, Thibeaux often found herself in double coverage down low, forcing the Broncos to rely on their outside shooters.
The Broncos and Queens exchanged looks late in an RDC dominated third frame as the teams went into the fourth quarter with the Queens leading 61-57.
Pitts would return to the game in the fourth after being looked at by trainers; favouring her ankle but was able to facilitate the ball with ease early on. On the first two possessions of the quarter the Broncos were able to equal the score as Meghan Cameron made a bucket before Pitts made a deep two pointer to knot the game at 61.
When the Broncos needed points in the clutch they went right back to their game plan: feed the ball down low and let the bigs do the work. Late in the game Thibeaux made shots from in tight on three out of four straight Broncos possessions to put the home team up 77-70 with two minutes remaining.
That would be enough for the Broncos to cruise the rest of the way to pick up a big win to improve their record to 4-3 going into the holiday break.
- Brendan Stasiewich, Olds College Broncos Sports Information