Resilience and Control Lead Thunder to the Win

EDMONTON, AB (January 28^th, 2023) - Concordia University of Edmonton (CUE) Thunder went up against the NAIT Ooks for a Saturday night clash.  Both teams played with intensity and the game stayed neck and neck until the final seconds. Thunder was able to stay on top and finished with a win, 70-67.

In the first quarter, Thunder had back-to-back layups and gained an early lead. Soon after, the Ooks fire on all cylinders and find the early hot hand to gain a lead of their own late in the first by landing threes. First quarter finishes 18-13 for the Ooks. In the second quarter, Thunder pushed inside to outscore the Ooks by about 10 points in the second. The Thunder will lead by eight points heading into half time, 42-34. In the third quarter, the Ooks bring the game tied multiple times Heading into the fourth it is neck and neck with the score 50-48 for the Thunder. The final quarter was intense. Both teams pushed hard and were on one offensively. Near the end the game, the Thunder scored a tough shot to bring them a one-point lead. The Ooks forced to foul to try to gain possession, the Thunder free throws bring it up to two. With great Thunder defense at the end of the game, the Thunder win by three. Coach Robbie Valpreda commented "It was an intense game and we stayed resilient, keeping possession in final minute and making free throws when it counted the most." 

The One Team Sport players of the game were #8 Lucy Wilde from the Ooks, with 27 points in the game. From the Thunder, #8 Raeesa Cherniwchan with 24 points in the night, #8 was an absolute powerhouse for the Thunder this evening. The next home game for Concordia is on February 3^rd against the Lakeland Rustlers at 6PM.