Broncos pick up huge win over Lightning
Shooters help Broncos to victory
On Friday evening in Olds the Olds College Broncos (11-5) shooters put on a clinic and held off the St. Mary's University Lightning (10-6) by the score of 78-67.
With both teams coming into the game tied for third place in the South with 10-5 records, the Broncos got what they needed from their stars who came to play in the second half.
Leading the Broncos bunch was the ACAC leading scorer Brittney Thibeaux who finished the game with 27 points and 21 rebounds.
The best player on the floor for the Broncos on the evening though was Michaela Allen-Gullion who finished with 21 points. Alice Fay-Pitts picked up a double-double with 14 rebounds and 12 points.
The leading Lightning scorer was Emily Wagner who scored 25 points on Friday.
As they are in the standings, the Broncos and Lightning played a tight and heavily contested first quarter.
While the Broncos played a sloppy first quarter, turning the ball over nine times, the Lightning were unable to convert on their chances, shooting just 6-23 in the quarter.
Meanwhile Michaela Allen-Gullion, despite a few turnovers, was dynamic for the Broncos early on, making a three pointer and two other field goals for seven first quarter points. Brittney Thibeaux also matched Allen-Gullion's seven points as the Broncos took a 20-16 lead into the second frame.
The Broncos began the second quarter on a quick 12-4 run, with Thibeaux already picking up her 10th rebound midway through the quarter.
However, after being down 32-19, the Lightning went on a 8-0 run over the next five minutes to get within five points of the Broncos despite shooting just 25% from the floor.
The Broncos would turn the ball over on back-to-back possessions late in the quarter, paving the way for a Megan Trisevic lay-up and a Jenny Leinweber three pointer as the Lighting tied the game at 32, capping a 13-0 run to end the half.
While the third quarter went back and fourth with the Broncos gaining a slim three point lead going into the fourth, the final quarter belonged to the Broncos shooters along with Thibeaux.
Allen-Guillion and Madison Simmonds seemed to make three-pointers on command in the quarter, with Thibeaux feasting under the hoop, fighting for rebounds and winning most battles.
As a testament to that, Thibeaux finished with 21 rebounds, helping the Broncos win the rebounding battle 50-32.
The Broncos strong play in the fourth quarter proved to be too much for the visiting Lightning as Olds took the victory 78-67.