Fredericton Freeze associate coach Anthony Ashe surveyed the scene of high fives and the celebration of victory in front of the home team bench and said ‘maybe we’re a fourth quarter team.’
Would appear so.
For the second time in a week, a huge fourth quarter propelled the Freeze to a Maritime Women’s Basketball Association win over the Moncton Mystics.
Fredericton outscored the visitors, 25-12 in the decisive fourth quarter, pulling away for an eventual 69-56 win in front of 229 patrons at Fredericton High School.
The Freeze (4-2), which rallied in the fourth last week to post a 92-87 win over Moncton, moved into a first place tie with the idle and undefeated Halifax Thunder (4-0). Moncton fell to 2-3 and remains alone in fourth spot.
The teams struggled offensively early, tied 8-8 after a quarter and 20-20 through two frames. It was shot-for-shot in the third and it was deadlocked 44-44 entering the pivotal fourth when the tide turned.
Allie McCarthy drilled 18 points to lead the Freeze. She had 14 in the second half, making her first appearance in her adopted hometown of Fredericton in over three years. McCarthy has played the past two seasons with University of North Dakota and will play USPORTS in Canada this season.
Kylee Speedy and Katie McAffee had 10 each for the winners.
Workhorse Lia St. Pierre sparked Moncton with 15 points. Abby Miller had 14 and Kelsey McLaughlin scored 11. Fredericton’s defence held Leonie Elbert to four points. The sparkplug point guard entered the game as the league’s leading scorer.
Action continues Friday when the Medavie Game of the Week unfolds as host Halifax Hornets (1-3) greet the Thunder at 7 p.m. at Mount St. Vincent University.
– Allie McCarthy sparked Fredericton’s offence in a win over Moncton.
