The Lethbridge College Kodiaks women’s basketball squad knew the circumstances heading into nationals, one-and-your-done.

And for the second straight year that is what happened as they lost a heartbreaker to Dawson College despite battling back from a 16-point deficit in the opening game of the CCAA national championships last week.
Paige Bowman’s game-high 30 points, Anne Mercer’s 14 points, 10 rebounds and six assists and team leader Kayla Lambert’s double-double (12-10) was not enough to propel the Kodiaks to victory, as the star guard went down awkwardly on her left ankle late in the fourth quarter, and so did the team.
“When you loose your all-Canadian from last year it’s huge. She’s just a calming influence. It would be like if Pittsburgh lost Crosby. She’s the key to how we play,” said Kodiaks’ head coach Brad Karren.
Despite 14 turnovers in their defensive zone from relentless pressure put on by Dawson in the first quarter, Bowman’s 18 first-half points were enough to help them keep it close going into halftime down 37-33.
Early in the third quarter, the Kodiaks dug themselves into a hole, going down 53-37 at one point, which forced coach Karren to call a time-out. His decision to change from zone defence to man-to-man coverage played a big role in the Kodiaks getting themselves back into the game for the fourth quarter with Mercer controlling the tempo.
The Kodiaks’ strong play to start the fourth quarter allowed them to claw their way backs in it. Lambert changed the Kodiaks’ momentum after converting a four- point play to bring them within three. She drained another bucket inside the paint, while Ashley Peterson gave them their first lead of the game 65-64, after hitting a three ball.
The Kodiaks’ 12-point scoring run expanded their lead to 71-64 with 5:54 remaining. Early foul trouble by Lambert, Mercer and Johnson, who had a quiet game, caught up to the dynamic threesome who had four fouls each.
The Kodiaks’ couldn’t continue to play aggressive defence after that and Dawson College scored seven straight, tying the game at 71.
“We did well. We still had chances to win it,” said Karren, adding foul trouble hurt his team.
Lambert became more and more effective before going down with 3:31 left with an ankle sprain. The scoring dried up for the Kodiaks as Dawson seemed to figure out Bowman’s game.
They repeatedly sent Dawson to the foul line and couldn’t draw back any closer.
Down by two with half a minutes to go, Mercer missed an ill-advised shot from outside the arc and the Kodiaks had to foul.
Dawson was in full control after making both foul shots, etching out the Kodiaks with a 79-75 victory.
Their second game was a battle of Alberta and rematch of the ACAC provincial championships against the SAIT Trojans.
It didn’t help that the Kodiaks were without star guard Kayla Lambert, who suffered the ankle sprain in the opener.
The Trojans came out firing in the first quarter going on a 9-0 run to start the game. With thorough pressure, they turned the ball over early and often and the shots they hit, the Trojans had an answer for.
They went into the half down 49-33. Head coach Brad Karren said Lambert is the one who holds the team together in tough situations, and her lack of presence on the court was quite evident.
Bowman, who was fresh off the 30-point effort against Dawson, fouled out midway through the third quarter, providing another huge blow to the Kodiaks.
The Kodiaks narrowed the gap to 62-45 at one point but that’s as close as they would get to the Trojans.
Unfortunately Mercer’s huge 23-point, 20-rebound effort wasn’t enough as the Trojans ran away with the 87-64 victory.
With the loss, Lethbridge landed themselves in the consolation game against Camosun College.
Bowman, who was the Kodiaks’ top scorer for the tournament, had 23 points while Mercer had 22 and 16 rebounds. The Kodiaks pulled away in the second half and finished the tournament with a 76-64 win.
They ended up finishing in seventh place, which coincidentally, was what they were seeded going in.