Connor Hood, Golden Bears and Pandas Athletics
EDMONTON - Trailing by 14 after the first half, the visiting Calgary Dinos stormed back in the second, knocking off the Alberta Pandas 72-62 in overtime, Saturday night at Saville Community Sports Centre.
The win gives the No. 10 Dinos the series sweep of their provincial rivals, after a 65-62 win in Calgary on Thursday night. Calgary outscored Alberta by seven in each the third and fourth quarter, before dominating in overtime to earn the win.
Kiki Knox paced the Calgary comeback with a game-high 15 points, adding four rebounds and three assists. Bobbi Jo Colburn also added 12, while Liene Stalidzane chipped in with 11.
Vanessa Wild and Jenna Harpe led the Pandas with 12 points each, but only four of the combined 24 points came in the fourth quarter and overtime.
Alberta was easily the better team in the first half, as they made 50% of their shots en route to a 20-13 lead after the first quarter. Wild and Emma Kary combined for nine of the 20, while Calgary struggled shooting just 36%.
Calgary's shooting woes carried into the second quarter, as they made just 4/17 from the field. Alberta took advantage, adding another 19 points in the second to take a seemingly comfortable lead into the half.
The Dinos slowly started to find their rhythm in the third quarter. Colburn dropped in six points in the third, as the visitors improved their shooting percentage by 20% from the second to the third.
Calgary also upped their intensity and aggression on defence, holding Alberta to 11 points, forcing seven turnovers from the Pandas.
The Dinos added another 18-11 point edge in the fourth quarter, forcing overtime tied at 61. Stalidzane was the difference maker for Calgary in the third, scoring seven of her 11 points in the quarter, while also adding an assist and two steals.
The visitors completely dominated overtime, holding the Pandas to a single point on 0/6 shooting, adding 11 points of their own to secure the win.
Following their home-and-home series, the two provincial rivals own matching 2-2 records. Alberta will travel to Fraser Valley next weekend to take on the Cascades, while Calgary will head home for a weekend set against Saskatchewan.