The women’s Thunder still has a long way to go before the playoffs.
“We need to do a better job rebounding and moving the ball in offence,” said head coach Laura Bond. “We are still trying to build chemistry with our new players.”
The basketball team gained a “messy win” against Centennial College Feb. 7, according to team captain Felicia Mazerolle.
Although they had the upper hand for most of the home game, the team was not at its strongest. The Centennial Colts were better at picking up rebounds, despite being at a height disadvantage.
The team is currently in second place in the OCAA East division, so the stakes are high. Just winning is no longer enough.
The Thunder upped their game during the second half, but the plays were still a little sloppy. They gave up the ball several times, allowing the Colts to intercept passes and get in a few scoring opportunities.
“We just need patience, and to slow down,” said Felicia Mazerolle.
The team’s frustration became evident in their increasingly rough play. With three minutes to go in the second quarter, Mazerolle collided with Centennial player Kayla Higgins during a rush to the net. Higgins was injured and had to leave the game for the remainder of the quarter.
“The game got really ugly,” Bond admitted.
Still, the Thunder remained just under 20 points ahead for majority of the game and finished with a 63-47 win.
Mazerolle said that the team is very guard-oriented, and that they need to concentrate on incorporating all five players and at responding better to rebounds.
The game’s top scorer, Mazerolle is focused on the playoffs. “I’m feeling confident,” she said. “We’ve still got lots of things to work on, but with each game we keep getting better.”
The Thunder will be playing in Durham on Feb. 13 and in Fleming Feb. 14.