Basketball finishes the Regular Season Strong
This past week the basketball teams finish the regular season on a winning note, playing a couple of games that were postponed from earlier in the season.
The women competed in a home and home series against the Augustana Vikings hoping to secure a couple more wins to run their regular season to a perfect 16 and 0. At Augustana, on Friday the women took a narrow 39 – 30 lead into the dressing room at the half. The Rustlers had an explosive third quarter scoring 28 points on their way to an 87 to 69 victory. Bilge Topaloglu paced the Rustlers with 24 points and 5 rebounds and Alana Olsen chipped in 11 for the victory.
Saturday at home was senior night where the Rustlers celebrated fifth year Tori Dugan's accomplishments over her career at Lakeland. On the court, the Vikings came out strong building a lead in the first quarter, and were up 46 – 38 at the half. The Rustlers came out in the 3rd quarter firing on all cylinders outscoring the Vikings 23 – 7 on their way to an 82- 67 victory. Bilge Topaloglu once again led the Rustlers with 25 points but Player of the Game and 5th-year point guard Tori Dugan had a great game putting down 14 points, pulling in 5 rebounds, and leading the team in assists with 7.
The win on Saturday moved the Rustlers to a perfect 16 and 0 for the regular and a bye to the north semi-final where they will take on either the King's Eagles or the Augustana Vikings on Sunday, March 6th at 6:00 pm.
The men's team had a rare Wednesday competition where they were playing a make-up game against the NAIT Ooks. The season series was tied at 1 apiece so this game was critical for the Rustlers to win to give them a better path to the final four.
The Rustlers came out strong in the first quarter and had a fairly comfortable lead going into the half. The Ooks came out aggressively in the third quarter outscoring the home team 18 – 5. The Rustlers battled back in the fourth on their way to a 69 – 45 victory. Artavis Holiday and Riley Rathwell chipped in 18 points each for the Rustlers and David Tshimanga added 13 more to help the Rustlers secure the win.
Saturday night the Lakeland finished the season off against the King's University Eagles and a win would secure third spot in the north. Saturday was also the night the Rustlers celebrated fifth year Artavis Holiday's playing career at Lakeland. Almost a carbon copy of Wednesday night's game the Rustlers started strong but were outplayed in the third quarter by the Eagles being outscored 27 – 13 in the quarter before they roared back and outscored the visitors 30 – 12 in the fourth, on their way to an 85 – 67 win. Fifth year Artavis Holiday had a great night for the Rustlers scoring 25 points, hauled in 11 rebounds and was rewarded with the Player of the Game nod for his efforts.
The Rustlers will host the Concordia Thunder on Friday, March 4th in a quarter-final match-up at 6:00 pm to see who will go on to take on the Augustana Vikings on Sunday and earn a spot in the ACAC final four.