The Holland College Hurricanes had their quarter-final game at the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association women's basketball championships in their hands through three quarters.
Then, the Mount Allison Mounties got hot, scoring 27 points in the fourth quarter, including four three-pointers, to defeat the Hurricanes 68-61 in Fredericton.
It was a tight game that featured eight lead changes, and three separate stretches where the game was tied.
Megan Spicer led Holland College with 15 points, four rebounds and four assists while Steph Hiltz, who was named the Hurricanes’ player of the game, finished with 13 points and eight rebounds.
MacKenzie Gray scored a game-high 25 points and adding nine rebounds for the Mounties.
Kayla Robichaud, who was named the Mounties’ player of the game, added 19 points and six assists, including a perfect 4-for-4 on three-point attempts.
Mount Allison jumped out to an early lead in the first quarter, but Holland College took control later in the quarter as Christina Medley’s seven points led the Hurricanes to an 18-13 first quarter lead.
The Mounties came back to within two at 24-22 late in the second quarter, but a three-point shot from Lisa Edwards, who also finished with 13, helped restore the Hurricanes lead, which they maintained through the end of the half.
The Hurricanes and Mounties traded baskets early in the third quarter, but then Holland College went on an 8-0 run midway through the quarter, fuelled largely by three-pointers from Edwards and Hiltz.
The Hurricanes stretched their lead to as much as 12 points late in the quarter before two late baskets from Gray cut the lead to 49-41 at the end of the third quarter.
Robichaud got Mount Allison’s rally going early in the fourth, as she connected on back-to-back three-point shots to close the gap to 49-47 before Chelsea Putnam put Mount Allison ahead with another three to close out a 13-0 Mounties' run.
Spicer took over for a brief stretch, scoring seven points as part of an 8-0 Holland College run midway through the fourth to give the Hurricanes a 57-50 lead.
However, Mount Allison took over after that, finishing the game on an 18-4 run to end Holland College’s season.
