Rustlers upset Broncos to advance to Final

In the first Semi-Final matchup the Lakeland Rustlers faced off against the Olds College Broncos for the chance to play for the gold medal. The Game opened up with both sides turning the ball over on their first trip down. This continued on the next trip as well as both teams missed on long distance attempts. With no scoring for the first 2 minutes, the match got off to a sluggish start. The first point of the game came off a Rustler free throw, making both and opening up the game 2:50 after the tip. The Rustlers hit a 3 pointer to go up 5-0. The clock hit 5:00 gone and the Broncos had still not scored. Brittney Thibeaux got to the line with 4:45 on the clock missing both to keep Olds scoreless. Another minute ticked by and the Broncos finally scored an inside jumper but still trailed 5-2. The Broncos scored again and were down 1 but the Rustlers got to the line hitting both and going back up 3. The clock ticked down in the quarter and the score tied up with Bronco Michaela Allen-Guillion hitting a deep 3. The Rustlers earned another trip to the line and again hit both to re-take the lead. the Broncos again tied it and took control of the ball with no time on the clock scored a late basket and went up 11-9 taking their first lead of the game right at the end of the quarter.

The second quarter started with misses again at both ends of the court. the Broncos were the first to score, going up 13-9. The Rustlers came right back with a 3 from Tori Dugan to narrow the lead to 1. Lakeland got the line and hit one to tie the game at 13. The Broncos Brandi Thibeaux earned a trip to the line to give her team a chance at the lead. She hit one of two and gave the Broncos a tiny lead, but her teammate added another on the same thing their next trip down. The Rustlers tied it at 15 with a nice play from Bilge Topaloglu inside. Lakeland scored again and took a 2 point lead as the clock ticked past the midway point of the quarter. The Broncos missed again on offence failing to convert on a 10 footer and the Rustlers added to their lead. Olds came back down the court quickly and found the basket but still trailed as time continued to tick off the clock in the half. The Broncos quickly came back to take the lead 20-19 off a few fast break points. the Rustlers responded with 2 points from the Charity stripe and earned another trip there. They missed both but Lakeland held on to their lead. after a good stop, the Rustlers hit another 2 to go up 3. Olds not wanting to go down responded with a 3 of their own but the Rustlers hit a late basket to go up 26-23 at the break.

The second half got started with the Rustlers getting a quick steal, and the Rustlers going down to score a quick basket to go up 5. The Broncos got 2 back and followed it up with a corner 3 from Dani Earl tying the game at 28. With 4 minutes gone in the quarter, nobody had established any solid momentum or scoring early in the frame. Another Bronco 3 allowed them to take a one point lead following a Rustlers basket. The Broncos added one more to the lead but the Rustlers quickly responded matching them at 32. Never more than 5 points from each other, the game was closely contested in almost every aspect. Every loose ball, rebound, and shot was closely guarded and could go either way. The Rustlers took a 3 point lead with 2:30 left up 36-33. Adding another on a free throw the Rustlers quickly earned another trip to the line right away adding 2 more. The Broncos got to the line on their next trip down the floor and again reduced the Rustlers lead to 3. A quick 2 inside got the Rustler lead back to 5 as the quarter started to tick toward the end. Lakeland got back to the line and added two more for a 7 point lead, the biggest of the game. The quarter ended here as the Rustlers held a 42-35 lead going into the break.

The final quarter started with the Rustlers holding their biggest lead and starting with the ball. Lakeland missed on their opening attempt and the Broncos came storming down the court for 2. The Rustlers responded getting to the line but only making one. Lakeland was once again able to pull away on a few quick points going up 10, 37-47 before the Broncos could respond. the Broncos scored 2 more quick buckets to reduce the lead to 6 but again the Rustlers answered with another 2. The Broncos worked the ball inside on their next trip and Brittney Thibeaux got back to the line to shoot 2. Before the shots the Rustlers took a quick timeout. Thibeaux Hit both and brought the Broncos within 6. This didn't last long as the Rustlers Ally Pilgrim nailed a pressure 3 restoring the lead. With just under halfway left in the final quarter, the game remained close. The Rustlers were still up but only by 4 until another Rustler 3 added to their lead. The Broncos got one back but still trailed by 6 as 3 minutes remained. The Broncos were able to stop the Rustlers but committed a foul and sent the Broncos to the line but again only hit one of 2. Now 55-50, Olds was able to come up with another stop, but missed on their attempt at the other end, more time taken off the clock. Less than a minute on the clock the Rustlers still had a 5 point lead but turned the ball over with 50 seconds left. On a huge defensive stop the Rustlers recovered the ball with 44.2 left and had a chance to take time off the clock. The Rustlers hit a huge 3 in the final minute and opened up a 8 point lead with almost no time on the clock. 17.2 remaining, the Rustlers only needed to run out the clock to come away with the upset victory. They held on to win 58-50 and advance to the Gold Medal Game.

The ACAC Players of the game were Macyn Morning Bull for Olds and Tori Dugan for Lakeland.