By JARROD POTTER
THEIR welcome to the big league was not a warm one for Keysborough Cougars’ Big V women.
Melbourne University Black Angels executed an 83-40 win over the Cougars in the first ever clash for the newly formed Big V outfit.
The Black Angels ran out to a 51-12 lead by half-time before the Cougars brought the margin back in the second half – hitting 28 points to 32 to finish 43 points adrift.
Coach Robert Ostojic rotated the squad with only Sarah Collins and Sacha Poly featuring on court for more than 25 minutes.
It was the turnover count that spoke loudest of the Keysborough statistics – as the Cougars coughed up the ball to the Angels 38 times in the season opener.
Melbourne University trio Caitlyn Mackenzie, Melanie Fidler and Kylie Turnley all claimed 16 points apiece while the Cougars were led on the stat-sheet by Ratika Palat (6 points). Brenna Barrett (5 points, 7 rebounds) and Tamara Booth (4 points, 9 rebounds) held firm under the basket for the Cougars.
The Cougars’ men played at 1pm on Sunday against Maccabi in their season opener.
The Cougars women head to Western Port on Saturday night (22 March) to face the Steelers while the men have their first big match-up with fellow 2013 Big V Division 2 finalist Pakenham at Cardinia Life on Sunday (23 March) from 1.30pm.
