Huskies Rebound, Down REDS

(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB REDS dropped a 72-63 decision to the Atlantic University Sport leading Saint Mary's Huskies in the second game of their double-header weekend, Saturday afternoon at UNB's Richard J. Currie Center.

Huskies guard Sophia Widmeyer (Dartmouth, NS) led all scoring with 16 points and was named Subway Player of the Game. 

"Overall, it was a much better effort," said Huskies' head coach Scott Munro. "We got to see the ball go in earlier today and we started to get a little more momentum defensively and we looked a lot more like ourselves defensively, so that was an improvement."

Katie McAffee (Lower Knoxford, NB) put a three-pointer away early in the first quarter to open the scoring for the REDS.

The teams battled back and forth throughout the quarter, trading the lead until the REDS pulled away by eight with only a couple of minutes left in the quarter. The Huskies were able to close the gap with a minute remaining, finishing the first quarter with the REDS up 21-15.

UNB led 45-38 at the half.

The REDS struggled to score in the opening minutes of the third quarter, allowing the Huskies to pull ahead 47-45.

McAffee ended the dry spell in the sixth minute with another three-pointer that saw the REDS regain the lead.

The Huskies were able to close out the third quarter leading the REDS 58-56 and maintained their edge throughout the final quarter, putting away 14 points, while the REDS fell short scoring only seven. Saint Mary's won 72-63, improving to 8-and-3. UNB is now 6-and-5.

"We're all disappointed with the loss, obviously," said McAffee. "I don't think we played to our full potential today, like we did yesterday."

On Friday, the REDS dominated in a 91-52 win over the Huskies.

"We didn't execute as well, defensively, as we did yesterday," added McAffee. "Their key players were getting the scores they wanted, and they were running their offence the way they wanted. Towards the end, we had a lot of little mental lapses that allowed them to get runs going and we just didn't bounce back.

The Huskies' Aki Kobayashi (Halifax, NS) and UNB's Jayda Veinot (Port Williams, NS) each scored 14 points. Huskies forward Marlo Steenbakkers (Ottawa, ON) lead the game with 10 rebounds.

Up next for the Huskies, a Thursday evening trip to Acadia for a 6:00pm tip.

The REDS go on the road Friday for a 6:00pm start at UPEI.

RECAP BY: Lauren Kelly/for UNB Athletics

PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics