Basketball Team in Newfoundland

The University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds women's basketball team is in sole possession of first place in the Atlantic University Sport Women's Basketball Conference after opening the second half of the schedule with a sweep of the hometown Memorial SeaHawks on the weekend.

It wasn't starry rookie Claire Colborne leading the way this time: it was veteran fifth-year guard Leah Corby, Corby, who took a couple of years off school before returning for her fifth and final season of eligibility this season, connected for a team high 24 points, had four steals and dished nine assists in 24 minutes of playing time to lead a 94-65 win over the SeaHawks Saturday night.

Sunday, she came back with a team-high 19 points to lead the V-Reds to a 94-78 victory, allowing the V-Reds to complete the sweep and move to first place overall in the league with an 8-1 record, two of the wins four-pointers for 18 points, two better than the 6-3 Cape Breton Capers and four more than both Memorial and StFX, who each have 14 points.

Colborne, the V-Reds' starry rookie who led the team in scoring in almost every game in the first half and led the nation in scoring going into the Christmas break, contributed as well, but it was the Corby show Saturday as well. Leah clicked on six of nine three-point attempts to key the offence. Veteran Amanda Sharpe added 21 points in 27 minutes, while Colborne had 16 points.

V-Reds shot 57 per-cent from the floor in the game and had it firmly in control at the half, leading 45-24. Three SeaHawks - Grace Fishbein, Kelia Pond and Jennifer Parsons - each had 10 points for the SeaHawks Saturday night.

Corby was even sharper from outside Sunday morning, hitting on five of six treys. Sharpe had 16 points and Colborne and Laura Fowler each 14.

Alexandria Forsey led the way for the SeaHawks with 25 points. Robyn O'Reilly had 18 points and Fishbein chipped in with 15.

V-Reds were down by six after the first quarter, trailing 28-22, and 46-45 at the halftime break, but took over from there, pouring in 30 points in the final 10 minutes of the match.

The V-Reds men had to settle for a split of their games. They beat the SeaHawks 71-58 Saturday, but fell 100-95 in the Sunday shootout.

Saturday, veteran point guard Andrew Wright collected 20 points and Alex DesRoches added 17 points and pulled down 14 rebounds. Dustin Anthony added a dozen points. Robbie Habib led the SeaHawks with 25 points. Jason Shephard had a dozen for the SeaHawks, who led by four at the half, 29-25. V-Reds took over in the third quarter, outscoring the SeaHawks 27-12 in that 10-minute period, and cruised coming home.

Shephard came back with a game-high 30 points for the SeaHawks in the Sunday free-for-all, which saw four SeaHawks and six V-Reds score in double digits by the time the smoke cleared. Mark Woodland collected 25, Habib had 16 and Justin Allman 12.

Wright led the V-Reds with 24 points. Lonzel Lowe added 18, Colton Wilson 15, Daniel Quiron and Will McFee a dozen each and Alex DesRoches 10 for the V-Reds, who trailed by seven at the first period break and three at the half, 42-39. Memorial outscored the V-Reds 58-56 in a second half where it appeared defence was optional.

V-Reds are 4-4 on the season. Their four wins are already more than they achieved in each of their previous three seasons, when they won two, three and three games.

The V-Reds men's and women's squads host Saint Mary's Huskies next Friday night in their only weekend action. Game times are 6 p.m. for the women, 8 p.m. for the men's match.