Reds Rebound, Beat Tigers
Second half rally earns UNB 78-59 win
(HALIFAX, NS) The UNB Reds staged a 24-point second half turnaround in beating the Dalhousie Tigers 78-59 on Saturday evening.
The Reds trailed the Tigers 35-30 after the first quarter.
Working the ball inside, both teams were shooting at a high percentage. Lia Kentzler (Gottingen, GER) led the early scoring for the Tigers, while Grace Simpson (Fredericton, NB) did a great job of slashing from the top for the Reds.
With both teams shooting well in the opening frame, neither side was able to gain an advantage as they went into the second quarter with the score tied 19-19.
The Tigers ran into some trouble on the offensive end in the second quarter with turnovers piling up against them. The Reds were able to use the extra possessions to push the ball in transition and go on a short run.
The midrange game cooled off for the Reds in the final minutes of the quarter however, and the Tigers were able to settle in with a run of their own. Karina May (Moncton, NB) and Sophie Gaube (Hubley, NS) were able to spark the run with threes on back to back possessions to reclaim the lead.
The run was capped off by a beautiful floater over the top from May, helping the Tigers take a 35-30 lead at the half.
Full-court pressure defense from the Reds gave the Tigers issues in the third quarter. Even when they were able to get the ball across half, passes were rushed, and the turnovers continued to add up.
The Reds, on the other hand, showed composure in their half-court sets, creating room for Simpson and Mikaela Dodig (Bolton, ON) to get into the paint and hit mid-range jumpers.
The Tigers were held to just three points in the final five minutes of the third quarter, while the Reds had their highest scoring quarter of the game at 27-9, taking a 57-44 lead.
In the end, the Reds were able to spoil Dal's 'Senior Night' with their 78-59 win.
Gaube led the Tigers with 12 points, while Simpson earned the Subway Player of the Game honours, finishing with 20 points and 12 rebounds in the UNB win.
The Reds will finish their Atlantic University Sport regular season next weekend with a pair of four-point home games against Saint Mary's and Acadia.
RECAP BY: Kirk Jessome/for Dal Athletics
PHOTOS BY: Trevor MacMillan/for Dal Athletics