(ANTIGONISH, NS) The UNB Reds cruised to a 79-37 victory over the St FX X-Women on Saturday night.
The X-Women had good play from Brianna Gottschall (Antigonish, NS) and Kim Kingsbury (Nepean, ON) in the first quarter, but a 9-0 Reds run established a 15-6 lead that the young X-Women side could not overcome. The Reds used excellent play from Eva Tumwine (Fredericton, NB) and Ja'Yon Leak (Charlotte, NC) to put X under pressure.
The second quarter was all Reds as the forwards and guards shared the spoils of a 24 point quarter. Leak, once again, was superb at both ends of the court, and Krystal Osburn (Nottawa, ON) contributed five key points.
The score at the break was 42-15 for UNB.
The second half saw continued dominance by the Reds, with Tumwine acting as the guiding influence for Leak and Marley Curwin (Halifax, NS) to show their skill on the AUS stage.
For X, with the result a foregone conclusion, their young players also took centre stage. Emma Norris (Edmonton, AB) was excellent and Lucia MacKay (New Glasgow, NS), with her confident and aggressive play, distinguished her as a player to watch for the rest of the season.
After a tough second and third quarter, the X-Women found their form in the fourth quarter and scored 16 points.
For UNB, Grace Simpson (Fredericton, NB) gave an assured performance and rookie Julia Summers (Calgary, AB) showed great vision as she drove the lane for two nice baskets.
Leak led all scorers in the game, finishing with 16 points on the night for UNB, while Simpson and Tumwine contributed 14 each. Off the bench, Osborn contributed 11 points and six rebounds, earning Subway Player of the Game recognition. Simpson was the leading rebounder on the night with nine.
Kingsbury led St FX with 13 points and five rebounds.
Next on the AUS schedule, the Reds host their home-opening game on Friday, against the Dal Tigers. Game time is 6:00pm. The X-Women travel to Sydney on Saturday to face Cape Breton at 6:00pm.
RECAP BY: Bart Sears, St FX Sports Information
PHOTOS BY: Bryan Kennedy, for St FX Sports Information