Searching for their first win of 2018-19, the Royals finally made their way home Friday night in the Women's Basketball Home Opener. The Royals were in tough against the Country's 14th ranked team, the Sheridan Bruins.
The Royals seemed to enjoy the loud, but comfortable confines of home, playing their best basketball of the season Friday night. After the Bruins opened the game with a 10-4 lead, Redeemer exploded for a 12-0 run, fueled by hot shooting from beyond the arc.
Mikayla Blackburn was perfect in the 1st quarter, hitting 3 straight 3-pointers.
Alex Webb added one as well, pushing the Royals out to a 25-20 lead after one period.
The 2nd quarter saw the Bruins catch fire, shooting 50% from the field, and closing the gap on Redeemer. Halfway through the 2nd, Sheridan pulled ahead for the first time since leading very early in the 1st quarter. The Bruins held a slight advantage heading into half, leading 40-39.
The 2nd half saw both teams exchange blows back-and-forth. Sheridan finished the 3rd quarter with a slight edge, leading by 3 points. The difference was Redeemer free throw shooting as the Royals connected on only 3 of their 8 attempts from the line while the Bruins knocked down 7 of 10.
The Bruins finally pulled away late in the 4th quarter. With the Royal down by just one point, 63-62, the Bruins went on a 10-0 run to blow the game open. The Royals were never able to recover, scoring just 4 more points before the final whistle. After shooting so well in the first half, Redeemer was 0-8 from 3-point in the second half. The final score was 80-66.
Tobie Brinkman continued her streak of double-doubles, scoring 19 points and adding 11 rebounds.
Mikayla Blackburn notched her best game of the season, shooting 50% from the field, scoring 15 points and adding 3 assists.
The Royals will have a week before their next match.. Redeemer hosts the 4-0 Fanshawe Falcons Saturday at 2:00pm.
