The game came down to the wire and despite being a young team, the Nipissing Lakers women's basketball team played like they had a tonne of experience.
In a last second play, thanks to a free-throw, the Lakers came away the win, topping the Algoma Thunderbirds 56-54 Friday night in North Bay.
The Lakers had an abundance of energy as they braved the court. Their energy levels only excelled as Nipissing found their range from beyond the arc.
The Thunderbirds came in quietly and soon took the lead. Algoma had a five point, 19-14 advantage after the first quarter, but Nipissing decided they weren't going to get any further and tied the score up 19-19 early in the second.
Soon enough the stands were cheering as Nipissing showed some incredible ball movement and grabbed a 28-21 lead in the second.
Algoma pushed back late in the first half and cut into the lead, but the Lakers headed to the dressing room up31-27.
As the game continued points were scored evenly back and forth between both teams. Nipissing remained energetic all throughout and it helped them keep their lead, building up a 44-38 advantage as the third quarter came to a close.
The final quarter of this game would be one for the team to remember as Algoma caught up in the final minutes, overcoming the Lakers and holding a 52-50 lead late.
Tensions grew as the score tied back up at 52-52.
The Thunderbirds scored another basket to once again take the lead, but Nipissing was not going to give this game away and came back in tying up the score yet again.
With 0.8 left on the clock,
Natalie Martinez put up a three, only to be fouled and head to the charity strip. shot a 3.
She sunk two of the three and pushed the Lakers to a two point lead and they held off one last Thudnerbirds chances to claim the win.
Jamie Soffer led the way offensively with 13 points off the bench, while
Natalie Martinez and
Maeve Therriault added 12 for the Lakers.
The Lakers will look to make it a perfect weekend Saturday when they host the Guelph Gryphons at 6pm at the RJS Athletic Centre.
