Close and close and then the Lake City 56ers pulled away.
Lake City, which entered play Wednesday night tied for top spot in the Maritime Women’s Basketball Association, earned sole possession atop the perch following a 67-52 triumph over host Halifax Thunder.
The 56ers moved ahead of idle Miramichi Her-Icanes for first place. Lake City is now 8-1. Thunder fell to 5-3.
Halifax held a 20-15 lead after a quarter, but the teams were deadlocked at 32-32 at the half.
Lake City started the second half quickly out of the gates and held a 47-40 lead entering the fourth frame.
Point guard Aki Kobayashi sparked the 56ers with 16 points. MacKenzie Smith dropped 14 and Lauren Armstrong had nine.
Sami Russell’s 16 paced Halifax. Sandy Saunders scored nine while Kiera Duffie and Sophie Atkinson had seven apiece.
Both teams are in action this weekend as the regular season concludes.
Thunder is home to Miramichi on Saturday at 7 p.m. and host Moncton Mystics Sunday at 4 p.m., in games at Dalhousie University in Halifax.
Lake City wraps its schedule Sunday on the road to face Halifax Hornets at 2 p.m. at Mount St. Vincent University.
An other Saturday game has Fredericton Freeze at Port City Fog at the University of New Brunswick at Saint John at 7 p.m.
Miramichi visits Port City Sunday at 3 p.m. at UNBSJ.
– Lake City’s Zoe Olscamp attacks the rim during Wednesday action. (TC Sports Media Photo)
