Chargers Fall to Mount Allison in ACAA Quarterfinal
The Crandall Chargers saw their playoff run come to an end Friday afternoon, falling 65–54 to the Mount Allison Mounties in the quarterfinal round of the 2025–26 ACAA Women’s Basketball Championship at the A. Garnet Brown Memorial Gymnasium.
Kelsey Alward led the Chargers with a strong double-double performance, recording 13 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. Charity Hearn added 10 points and four rebounds, while Kaley Axworthy contributed eight points and four rebounds in the effort.
The Chargers started the game well as both teams traded baskets early. Charity Hearn answered Mount Allison’s opening score with a strong finish at the rim, and Axworthy later found Hearn inside to tie the game at 4–4. Crandall continued to attack the paint late in the quarter with back-to-back layups from Ellie Hiltz and Ella Smith to take a brief 16–13 lead. However, Mount Allison responded with two late three-pointers from Ava Godfrey to take a 19–16 lead into the second quarter.
Crandall kept things close early in the second frame. Lauren Lilly opened the quarter with a tough drive to the basket, and a three-pointer from Janaya Hiltz trimmed the Mounties’ lead to just one point. Axworthy later drove to the basket to bring the Chargers within four at 31–27. Mount Allison closed the half with a late 7–0 run, however, taking a 38–27 lead into halftime.
The Mounties extended their lead early in the third quarter, but the Chargers continued to battle. Hearn finished through contact inside, while Alward and Smith added baskets in the paint as Crandall worked to close the gap. A late push from Alward and Randi Ross helped cut the deficit to 54–43 heading into the final quarter.
Mount Allison opened the fourth quarter with a three-pointer from Nora Miller to stretch their lead, but the Chargers continued to fight. Alward sparked a late push with a strong finish inside and later knocked down a three-pointer to bring the deficit back to single digits at 63–54 with just over two minutes remaining.
Despite the late surge, the Mounties were able to close out the game and secure the 65–54 victory.
Alward was named Cleve’s Source for Sports Player of the Game for the Chargers after her double-double performance.