X-Women split weekend series with 69-61 victory over Reds

(FREDERICTON, NB) Kimberly Kingsbury (Nepean, ON) had 19 points and six rebounds while hitting a pair of free throws late in the fourth quarter to help the STFX X-Women beat the UNB REDS 69-61 on Saturday.

The X-Women's lone senior was named Subway Player of the Game in X's first win of the season.

Tahmala Thorpe (Mississauga, ON) added 16 points while Aliyah Fraser (New Glasgow, NS) dropped 12 and Briar MacDonald (Antigonish, NS) had a strong game in the paint with 16 rebounds.

"Yesterday we didn't really box out and we were letting their bigs rebound over us and get a bunch of second chance opportunities, so our main focus today was rebounds," said Kingsbury.

"I think that really helped us, because we shut down their second chance opportunities and we got more shot attempts in return."

Katie McAffee (Lower Knoxford, NB) led the REDS with 17 points in the loss while Bailey Black (Miramichi, NB) added 13.

"It's the AUS, so it's going to be competitive each weekend," said McAffee.

"I don't think our focus as a team was there tonight and we didn't shut down their key players like we should have."

The game was played to 633 masked and fully vaccinated fans at UNB's Currie Center.

UNB came out of a low scoring first quarter leading 11-9.

The two teams would battle similarly to start the second until a REDS timeout after the X-Women pulled within one at 19-18. 

UNB would put up the next seven points to make it 27-18 before STFX pushed back with a 12-3 run to tie it up 30-30 at halftime.

Both teams would continue to wrestle for the lead to start the second half, splitting the first 12 points of the third quarter.

Neither team would be able to gain more than a five-point spread in the frame, as the X-Women took a slim 51-50 lead into the fourth.

Fraser hit a huge three-pointer to give the X-Women a four-point lead at 61-57, and Kingsbury's pair of clutch free throws would make it a six-point lead at 67-61 to give STFX the space to secure the win.

"After every single practice we shoot free throws and if we miss them, we run, and I think that really paid off today because that's what mattered in the game," said Kingsbury

Both teams finish their opening weekend with 1-1 records.

The REDS head to Halifax next Friday to face the Saint Mary's Huskies. Game time is 6:00pm.

STFX hosts the Acadia Axewomen Wednesday night in their home opener. Game time is also 6:00pm.

-30- 

Courtesy Jonathon James, UNB Athletics

Congrats to Kim Kingsbury - Subway Player of the Game with 26 PTS, 6 RB in the X-Women's 69-61 win over UNB! #Subwayfuel pic.twitter.com/84fT2z2Iu2

— StFX Athletics (@StFXAthletics) October 31, 2021