The Concordia Stingers' first visit to the U SPORTS Final 8 women's basketball championship in 20 years comes to an end after two losses in two days.
Playing at Ryerson University in Toronto, the Stingers lost their quarter-final match 86-68 to the McMaster Mauraders on Thursday afternoon. The final blow came from the Acadia Axewomen who defeated the Stingers 86-74 on Friday night in the consolation semifinal.
“We stayed aggressive and were fearless,” said Concordia rookie guard Areej Burgonio, a Toronto native. “This is where I grew up, this is where my craft started and it sucks that things didn’t go our way, but it just means we have to get back in the gym.”
It was a tough, physical game that saw the lead change hands 20 times. The Stingers were in front 36-35 at halftime and 58-56 after three quarters. But the final period was all Acadia with the Axewomen outscoring the Stingers 30-16 to wrap up the victory.
Rookie guard Myriam Leclerc was the leading scorer on the Stingers with 21 points. Third-year guard Caroline Task went 10 for 10 from the free-throw line and had 19 total points, while Aurelie d’Anjou Drouin, the fifth-year senior playing in her final university game, had 11 points.
Acadia’s Haley McDonald was the leading scorer in the game with 34 points.
The Axewomen move onto the consolation final where they’ll face the Ryerson Rams on Sunday.
Players of the Game
Concordia: Myriam Leclerc
Acadia: Haley McDonald
