HALIFAX, NS – The Saint Mary's Huskies received a full team effort with 10 different players scoring in their 87-72 win over the St. Francis Xavier X-Women on Saturday night at the Homburg Centre.
The first quarter was a back-and-forth battle with X-Women forward Ekaterina Karchevskaya (Mogilev, Bulgaria) scoring the first seven points of the game for STFX, but a three by Huskies guard Sophia Widmeyer (Dartmouth, NS) gave the Huskies an 8-7 lead. A late steal and score by Huskies guard Clara Gascoigne (Dartmouth, NS) put them up 18-16 after the first quarter.
The Huskies three-point shooting turned up the heat in the second quarter, as guards Widmeyer, Gascoigne, Alaina McMillan (Brantford, ON) and Courtney Donaldson (Kelowna, BC) each hit a three-pointer, with the Huskies shooting a blistering 7/16 from beyond the arc in the first half. X-Women point guard Katie Upham (North River, NS) led the way for the X-Women with six points in the second quarter, and the Huskies took a 40-29 lead into the half.
Saint Mary's was led in the first half by the all-star backcourt of Clara Gascoigne and Alaina McMillan, who each scored 10 points. The X-Women were led by Karchevskaya and forward Elizabeth Kennedy (Richmond, BC) who each scored 10.
The X-Women cut into the Huskies lead in the third quarter, with a three-pointer by guard Laia Torrent (Barcelona, Spain) cutting the Huskies lead to eight. That's when Widmeyer took over, making a lay-up, three-pointer and a nice transition assist to forward Lucina Beaumont (Fredericton, NB), as part of a Huskies 8-0 run to extend the lead to 52-36.
The Huskies third quarter barrage didn't stop there, with guards Courtney Donaldson and Sarah Forgie (New Westminster, BC) producing off the bench. The Huskies shot 59% from the field and 46% from three in the third quarter, on their way to outscoring the X-Women 35-16, and took a commanding 75-45 lead into the fourth.
The fourth quarter saw both teams go a bit deeper into their bench, and X-Women reserve forward Kira Atherley (Lasalle, ON) led a run for the visitors, as she scored 11 of her team-high 19 points in the fourth quarter, while guard Aliyah Fraser (New Glasgow, NS) scored all seven of her points in the final frame. Despite being outscored 27-12 in the final quarter, the Huskies bench made some great plays, including reserve guards Isabella MacKay (New Glasgow, NS) and Aiyanna Empringham (Middle Sackville, NS), who each scored three points.
Huskies guard Alaina McMillan was named Subway Player of the Game 18 points, and added three rebounds, two assists and two steals. Sophia Widmeyer added a team-high 19 points and five rebounds, while Courtney Donaldson scored 13 points off the bench.
The X-Women were led by Kira Atherley's 19 points off the bench, while Katie Upham chipped in 13 points and seven rebounds.
The Huskies third straight win improved their record to 11-4 on the season. The Huskies will hit the road next weekend, as they visit the UPEI Panthers on Friday night, with tip-off scheduled for 6 p.m.
The X-Women third straight loss dropped their record to 3-13 on the campaign. They too will hit the road next weekend, visiting the UNB REDS on Sunday, Feb. 5, with tip-off scheduled for 2 p.m.
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Recap by Allan April / SMU Huskies Athletics