The Algonquin Thunder women’s basketball team closed out a nail-biter over the Seneca Sting on Jan. 11 with a score of 80-75.
Hadeza Ismaila finished the game with 22 points, leading the team to a record of 9-1 on the season, good for second in the eastern standings.
The contest was scrappy for most of the first half, with the score being tied 34-34 going into the third quarter.
The game got chippy near the end and the team’s leading scorer Rita Sibo fouled out of the game with just under five minutes to go in the fourth.
The Thunder held strong, coming together as a unit, ultimately showing the depth of the team.
“I tried to stay positive mentally so that I could carry my teammates and bring them up if they need to be up,” said Ismaila.
The contest was an exciting one, with the Thunder leading by only three with two minutes to go in the fourth quarter.
The women, however, seemed calm and collected in the tense moments of the game.
“We relied a lot on our seniority on our team,” said coach Jamie McLean. “The girls all realized very quickly that we can do this, we all have that ability; we can take control of this game and they showed it the way they finished it.”
With the team set to take on the Loyalist Lancers this upcoming Friday, Jan. 18, coach Jamie McLean mentioned it’s all about the Thunder, and no one else.
“It’s not necessarily about who we’re playing next Friday, it’s about how we’re playing,” said McLean. “For a game like that where last time it was a big spread, we got to focus on what we’re doing and making sure we’re working on the right things and not creating bad habits. Next weekend’s going to be all about us playing the right way.”