The Lethbridge College Kodiaks women’s basketball team took their first step on the road back to Nationals, edging the Grant MacEwan Griffins, two games to one, in a three game weekend playoff series.

They’ll head to Edmonton to play the host Concordia Thunder this Friday in the ACAC semi-finals.
The Kodiaks came out strong to start game one, establishing a good three-point presence, which helped them develop a 30-17 lead to end the first quarter.

The Kodiaks managed to shoot over 50 per cent from beyond the arc in this match hitting 10 of their 18 attempts.

Regardless the Griffins managed to claw back in the second quarter and maintained the pressure, tying it at 51-51 with four minutes left in the third.

However, that’s as close as they’d get, as Natalie Johnson’s clutch three pointer with the shot clock expiring, midway through the fourth, created a nine-point gap.

From here the Kodiaks played out the clock to hang on to a 77-74 victory.

Kodiaks’ starters Anne Mercer, Paige Bowman, Kayla Lambert and Natalie Johnson all finished the game with double digit scoring with 22, 20, 14, and 11 points respectively.

The Kodiaks found themselves in a different story for game two falling behind early as the Griffins were able to establish offence through free throw opportunities, which allowed them to create a 29-16 lead to end the first quarter.

“We just got in foul trouble, because of this you’re not able to play the style of defence you normally play,” said Karren who saw the Griffins capitalize on 24 of their 32 trips to the foul line.
The final minute of the second quarter allowed the Kodiaks to cut into the Griffin lead, as a flurry of baskets ended the half 41-38.

Heading into the fourth, tied at 52-52, the teams would go basket for basket to open up the fourth.
In the end, the Kodiaks had trouble hitting their shots and were out-rebounded, as the Griffins stole one with an 84-73 victory.

Mercer was arguably the Kodiaks’ best contributor on both sides of the ball with her team-high 25 pts and seven steals.

Sunday afternoon’s deciding match had the feeling of desperation.

Both teams came out with a lot of energy but the Kodiaks played smart, controlled the ball and never really allowed the Griffins to gain their rhythm.

“We were doing our dribble drive, and it wasn’t just a one kick shot,” said Kayla Lambert, as all the Kodiaks were able get multiple touches on every possession.

“We knew going into the series that the matchups were going to be a challenge for us,” said Rob Poole, Griffins’ head coach.

“And I just think they did a good job at isolating us, creating opportunities for their ability to penetrate and get to the rim. We just let them get to the rim too quick and too fast, because of that were not advancing.”

The Kodiaks found themselves tied at 15-15 midway through the first quarter but went on a 9-2 run which was capped by Kayla Lambert’s triple to end the quarter to take the 24-17 lead.
A few key fundamental breakdowns by the Kodiaks in the second quarter allowed the Griffins to bring it within four at the half, 36-32.

With elimination at stake, it was a feisty third quarter, as both teams would exchange baskets throughout to a tight  58-56 Kodiak advantage.

The Kodiaks and Griffins basically exchanged baskets throughout the quarter as the score ended with the Kodiaks on top 58-56.

An easy back door play to Griffins’ Megan Knowles would tie the game at   58-58 to open the fourth.

Natalie Johnson would reply with a layup shortly after and the Kodiaks, with the help of Griffin foul trouble, slowly extended the lead throughout the quarter.

Paige Bowman sealed the deal with a layup off a steal with 3:20 left in the game pushing their lead to double digits 76-66.

The Kodiaks breathed a sigh of relief, ending the game 85-71.

“We knew we had to start out a little bit stronger and take it to them a little quicker,” said Kodiaks head coach Brad Karren.

“When your playing catch up to a team with that type of calibre players. It’s a challenge,” added Poole.

Kodiak forward Natalie Johnson said it was frustrating having to play three games, but was happy how the team responded for the final game.

“We were a totally different team than we were yesterday. I think we wanted way more than we did yesterday,” said Johnson.    
She who went 10 for 11 from the field and finished as the ACAC player of the game.
“Basketball is about momentum, there’s ups and downs and you know we’ve bottomed out so hopefully were start climbing back up,” concluded Karren.

Natalie Johnson finished the Kodiaks top scorer with 24 points.

Other big performances by the Kodiaks came from Kayla Lambert who added 21 and Elizabeth Lowry who contributed 18.

The Kodiaks know they’ll have to play better and stick to the game plan when they head to Edmonton to play the Concordia Thunder in this weekend’s ACAC semi-final.  

If the Kodiaks win, they’ll play in the final on Saturday with the champion heading to Nationals.
The Kodiaks are confident heading into this weekend’s one-game elimination match, but feel they need to keep Concordia’s speed and agility in check.

“We’ve got to keep up the pressure and be better on defence,” Johnson said.