Antigonish, NS – The UNB Reds defeated the STFX X-Women 68-60 Sunday afternoon at the Saputo Centre, completing the weekend sweep.
The teams got out to a cautious start offensively in the first quarter. The Reds held a 14-2 edge after the opening 10 minutes of play.
First year guard Abby Gyori (Sylvan Lake, AB) started off the second quarter with a three-pointer for the X-Women. The Reds responded quickly and kept the score close.
The game was within three points for the majority of the quarter until the Reds went on a nine-point run with two minutes left, ignited by a Kylee Speedy (Fredericton, NB) three-pointer and a trio of baskets by Katie Butts (Ottawa, ON).
The visiting Reds held a 33-26 halftime lead. Speedy had nine point in the opening half for UNB while her teammate Katie McAffee (Lower Knoxford, NB) netted 10.
Elizabeth Kennedy (Richmond, BC) was the top scorer for the X-Women in the half with nine points.
The X-Women battled back in the opening two minutes of the third quarter and took a 34-33 lead as they closed the gap on the Reds.
A McAffee three-pointer quickly re-gained the Reds lead and the teams continued to trade baskets.
The game was tied at 44 with three minutes to play and remained tied 50-50 at halftime.
The fourth quarter saw more of the same end-to-end close action, with the score not wavering more than 4-5 points to either side.
The Reds led 64-59 with two minutes to play after Erin Ingalls (St. George, NB) drained a three-pointer. Speedy then sank a jump shot to give them a seven-point lead and the Reds defense did the rest as the X-Women could not overcome the deficit and time ran out.
UNB closed out the 68-60 win, their second in as many days over the X-Women as they improve to 5-6 on the season, in sixth place in the AUS standings.
The X-Women, in seventh place, drop to 2-11.
Kennedy was the top scorer and player of the game for STFX with 16 points and five rebounds. Tahmala Thorpe (Mississauga, ON) had 12 points and Kira Athlerley (Lasalle, ON) 11.
For the Reds, Butts earned Subway player of the game honours, contributing 14 points and 10 rebounds in the Reds win. McAffee scored 15 and also had a double-double game with 10 rebounds. Speedy finished with 14 and Ingalls added 11.
The Reds will next see action on Friday, March 4th when they host the Cape Breton Capers.
The X-Women will travel to Charlottetown on Sunday, March 6th to take on the UPEI Panthers.
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Courtesy Krista McKenna, STFX Sports Information
