Mounties win 2018 ACAA Women's Basketball Championship in OT thriller!

The Mount Allison Mounties refused to quit and now they are the 2018 ACAA Women's Basketball Champions after an epic 77-71 overtime victory over the top ranked Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU) Mystics.  Down as many as 16 points in the 3rd quarter, the Mounties fought their way back into contention to claim their first ACAA women's basketball championship since the 2005-2006 season.

After starting the game on a 7-0 run, the Mounties found themselves down 20-16 at the end of the 1st quarter. The Mystics held an eight point advantage at half time (36-28), thanks in large part to Madisen Jennex who dropped 13 first half points.

The Mystics went on a 10-0 run early in the 3rd quarter and led 46-30 as the game appeared to be slipping away for the Mounties.  That's when the Mounties started to make their move. Led by the balanced scoring of Emma Hachey and Lauren McEachern, the Mounties gradually pulled closer as the game neared the end. Responding first with an 11-0 run of their own, the Mounties got as close as 46-41 before the Mystics would score again.

Late in the game the Mounties climbed to within 2 points and trailed 63-61 but with only 4 seconds remaining the Mystics got the ball to inbound. The tenacious Mounties forced a turnover and got the ball below the Mystics hoop with only 2 seconds remaining. Senior Sarah McGeachy inbounded to rookie Emma Hachey who was fouled as she went to the basket. The freshman Hachey stepped to the line to shoot two of the biggest free throws of her life. She calmly nailed the first, and after a deep breath, hit the second to send the game to overtime.

In the extra period the Mounties used their balanced attack of Kiersten Mangold, Hachey and McEachern to pull away to a six point victory, an upset over the top-seeded Mystics.

McEachern finished with 24 points and was named Player of the Game for the Mounties, while Hachey had a double-double of 17 points, 12 rebounds. Mangold, who was named the ACAA Player of the Year on Friday, finished the game with 13 points and 6 rebounds. Mangold was 9 of 10 from the free throw line in the Mounties win.

Jennex had 19 for the Mystics and Kate Gallant had 18.

Both teams will advance to CCAA Championships to be played at Mount Allison University. The newly crowned ACAA Champions will host the CCAA Women's Basketball Championship for the first time in school history from March 14th-17th. To order your tournament passes online, please click here