Reds Hold Off Huskies
UNB wins 62-58
(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB Reds held off a late surge by the Saint Mary's Huskies to win 62-58 on Friday.
"Our goal was to play 40 minutes right from the start, and we did have a slow start and then we got the win, which is what we wanted, but we definitely need to be able to play 40 minutes, especially with the playoffs coming up," said Reds wing Jane Boyle (Halifax, NS).
The game was mostly in the Reds favour, with the Huskies making it interesting in the last five minutes with some big shots from beyond the ark.
"We know they can shoot the three really well and I thought a couple of those threes were some really good shots by some good shooters, but I also thought a couple of those threes were us not doing our job defensively," said Reds head coach Jeff Speedy.
The Reds doubled the Huskies 18-9 in the first quarter.
The Huskies would play a better second, but still trailed 31-19 at the half.
Saint Mary's drew almost even with the Reds in terms of scoring in the third, but again couldn't cut into the UNB lead.
The Huskies would push hard to bring the score within one twice in the fourth, but some clutch three-pointers from Mikaela Dodig (Bolton, ON) and two equally important free throws from Boyle gave the Reds enough breathing room to seal the win, 62-58.
"I think we feel asleep on their three-point shooters, they had a run with I think five threes and we can't have that at all," said Boyle.
First-year UNB point guard Marley Curwin (Halifax, NS) was named Subway Player of the Game.
Dodig led the scoring for the Reds with 18 points and four rebounds, while Boyle had 12 points and 13 rebounds.
Alaina MacMillan (Brantford, ON) led the Huskies with 18 points and a pair of rebounds, while Kendra MacKinnon (Pictou, NS) had 11 points and four rebounds off the bench.
The Reds remain fourth in the Atlantic University Sport standings with an 11-and-8 record heading into their last game of the regular season. They will face the Acadia Axewoman on Saturday, at 6:00pm, at UNB's Aitken Centre.
The Huskies finish their season in seventh place with a 3-and-17 record, missing this year's playoffs.
RECAP BY: Jonathon James/for UNB Athletics
PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics