Capers storm back behind Keough's double-double

By Thomas Becker

Cape Breton's size down the stretch helped the Capers come out on top 74-65 against the UPEI Women's Basketball Panthers in AUS action Friday night.

The Capers, behind a double-double performance by forward Alison Keough, went on a 16-4 run late in the fourth quarter to complete the comeback at the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre.

Keough finished with 24 points and 14 rebounds, while teammate Colleen Keane scored 14 in the winning effort.

"Keough really had her way down the stretch," said Panthers head coach Greg Gould. "She knows how to score down in the low block and she did a good job of getting there."

The two teams traded baskets in the first quarter, with some of the league's top scorers going toe-to-toe.

Panthers shooting guard, Anne Kiberd scored nine points in the opening quarter, but was matched by Keough, who scored 10, giving Cape Breton an early 20-19 lead.

Keough was held scoreless in the second quarter when the Panthers ramped up their interior defence.

With less than three minutes remaining in the half, the Panthers went on a 9-0 run to take a 39-32 lead at halftime. Tamara Tompkins and Katelynn Donahoe led the way, scoring seven and five respectively.

The Capers opened the second half on an 11-6 run, but a Donahoe three-pointer helped the Panthers withstand Cape Breton's push. 

With 2:05 remaining in the third, Capers' Rasheeka Gunn tied the game, 50 apiece, with a three-point play. Keough added a basket in the following possession giving the Capers their first lead since the second quarter.

Down 54-52 to start the fourth, Tompkins capped off a Panthers 9-4 run with a corner three to retake the lead 61-58.

Keough was unstoppable in the second half, scoring 14 points on 7-of-7 shooting, contributing to the 74-65 comeback victory.

Four Panthers starters finished in double figures in the loss, with Tompkins leading the way with 16 points.

Going into the game, Gould was concerned with his team's rebounding. Despite holding their opponent to just 13 first half rebounds, the Panthers' lack of controlling the glass caught up with them, as Cape Breton outrebounded UPEI 25-5 in the second half.

"That's it right there," said Gould of the game. "I thought in the first half we did a great job on the boards, but we just got absolutely destroyed in the second half."

The Panthers (2-2) and Capers (3-2) are at it again Nov. 21 at 6 p.m. at the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre.