The StFX X-Women (1-0), on the strength of a 35-5 lead in the second quarter, opened the AUS basketball regular season with a 73-63 win over the rival Cape Breton University Capers (0-1) Wednesday night at Oland Centre in Antigonish.

The X-Women, who shot 69 per cent in the opening half, led 23-4 after the opening quarter and 47-28 at halftime.

"We came out really strong, but we got complacent and let them back in the game," X-Women fifth-year guard Lia St. Pierre said after the game.

"But, a win is a win, and we will take it," she added.

Subway player of the game Vanessa Pickard led the X-Women with 20 points, including an 8-for-10 performance from the free-throw line.

The third-year guard added eight assists, four rebounds, three steals and one blocked shot.

Lindsay Lessard and Kolbi Roper also hit double digits with 14 points apiece.

St. Pierre added nine points, 12 rebounds (a team high) and eight assists in another strong all-around game.

For the Capers, freshman post player Alison Keough collected a double-double with 17 points and 14 rebounds. She added four steals, an assist and a blocked shot.

Fifth-year guard Tanira McClurkin also scored 17, while adding five assists and one steal.

The X-Women and the Capers will be back in action Saturday, Nov. 9 when they tip off at Sullivan Field House on the Cape Breton University campus in Sydney. Game time is 6 p.m.

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