Obasuyi records another double double as Griffins push for first win before falling short in dying seconds
MacEwan Athletics
CALGARY – Despite being grabbed, bumped and jostled all over the court as the opposition's No. 1 focus, Unity Obasuyi still managed to record her second-straight double double with 22 points and 11 rebounds on Saturday night.
It was nearly enough to lead the Griffins women's basketball team to victory.
MacEwan fought hard in a gritty affair at Mount Royal University, even holding a one-point lead with a minute left, before the clutch points went to the home side in a 61-56 result.
"We took the lead and then a few miscommunications gave them some buckets," said Griffins head coach Katherine Adams. "We had some opportunities at the other end and unfortunately couldn't convert in the moments when we really needed to and that kind of sealed the deal for us."
With the result, the Griffins fall to 0-8, while MRU improves to 4-4.
Obasuyi was double teamed throughout the final possessions, leaving it up to Toni Gordon, who went to the line with the Griffins up 55-54 at 1:47. Both missed.
The ball then went off her foot and out with 54 seconds left, and MRU's Nora Luca kissed it of the glass and in to put the Cougars in front. They never looked back as MacEwan just couldn't find the hoop at the end with Paige Massier hitting one of her two free throws before just missing a three-pointer that would have tied it with 13 seconds left.
"The reality is we haven't been in a ton of these moments leading up to this and I think it's a great sign we're in these moments in competitive games because these are the moments we want to be in," said Adams.
Obasuyi was the big bright spot for the Griffins as she finished a monster weekend with 52 total points and 21 rebounds in two games at MRU.
"I think this weekend, we really saw how well she rebounds as well," said Adams. "It's an area of growth for her, for sure, so for her to walk away with back to back double doubles is pretty impressive. I think especially with all the attention she's getting defensively. She is being bumped and held and grabbed on every cut. Having to fight through that and still put up the numbers that she is is wildly impressive.
"Certainly kudos to her for her performance this weekend and putting us in the position we were to be so competitive."
The Griffins will be back at home next weekend as they welcome cross-town rival Alberta to the David Atkinson Gym.
