ANTIGONISH – The StFX X-Women basketball team wrapped up pre-season play with an 80-64 victory over the visiting Holland College Hurricanes Sunday afternoon at Oland Centre.

In the first quarter, Katie MacIntosh (Barrie, ON) established her interior presence for the X-Women, while Keionia Beals (Halifax, NS) drained a pair of three-pointers to lead the Hurricane offense.

The X-Women led 22-16 after the first quarter.

Early in the second quarter, after an offensive rebound and basket by Allison Reno (Halifax, NS), the X-Women took a double-digit advantage  - 31-21.

The Hurricanes, keyed by an acrobatic hoop-and-harm three-point play from Jayla Verney (Halifax, NS), finished the second on a 11-2 spurt.

At halftime, the X-Women were up 33-32.

Led by five points from Jessica Miller (Mount Denson, NS), including a shot from beyond the arc, StFX started the third quarter with a 7-0 run.

After Verney swished a couple more threes and Jamie McCarron (New Glasgow, NS) scored six consecutive points for the X-Women, while Holly Scott (Antigonish, NS) added a face break lay-up, the home side regained their double-figure lead at 52-42.

On the strength of a buzzer-beating jumper from Caroline Hrabinski (Toronto, ON), the X-Women led 60-50 after three quarters.

In the fourth quarter, the Hurricanes started an early rally, sparked by an acrobatic scoop shot lay-up by Tyleigha Nelson (Halifax, NS).

After another trio of baskets by McCarron and a corner three-pointer from Scott, the X-Women stretched the margin to 76-58 – their biggest lead of the game.

MacIntosh led the X-Women with a game-high 17 points, while McCarron (12) and Miller (10) also scored in double figures.

For the Hurricanes, Verney, with 16, Beals (15), Nelson (13) and Bebe Rivoli-Johnson (12) were the offensive leaders.  

The X-Women will open Atlantic University Sport (AUS) regular season action Wednesday, Nov. 1, at 6 p.m., when they tip-off against the Dalhousie Tigers at Dalplex in Halifax.

Their home opener is set for Saturday, Nov. 4, at 6 p.m., when they host the Tigers.

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