Rustlers guard Hineaupounamu Nuku applies pressure to Concordia University’s Chloe DeKlerk at the Lakeland gym on Friday night as the Rustlers started the 2023 season. Taylor Weaver Meridian Source
It was opening weekend for the Lakeland College Rustlers women’s basketball team, and what a strong start it was as the girls go into week two with a 2-0 record.
The Rustlers hosted the Concordia University (CUE) Thunder at the Lakeland gym on Friday night before travelling to Edmonton on Saturday to face the CUE on their own turf.
The Thunder may have held a 22-16 lead going into the second quarter on Friday night, but it didn’t take long for the Rustlers to bounce back as they led for the remainder of the game for a final score of 78-55.
Lakeland’s newly-acquired guard, New Zealand’s Hineaupounamu Nuku, set the tone on Friday scoring 32 points in 32 minutes of playing time.
The Rustlers carried that momentum from Friday into Edmonton on Saturday as they beat the Thunder 76-53.
Nuku would once again get the start, but it was fourth-year guard Alana Olson of Maidstone who set the tone on Saturday.
Olson racked up 18 points in 27 minutes of court time, which was closely followed by guard Susan Ayaa, who earned 10 points in 16 minutes of playing time.
The Rustlers have this weekend off before travelling to Edmonton to take on the Kings University Eagles for back-to-back road games next weekend.
