REDS Beat Tigers, End Weekend On High Note

(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB REDS scored a 93-59 win over the Dalhousie Tigers Sunday afternoon in the final game of the 2024 Stewart-McKelvey Helen Campbell Tournament.

UNB's win came in the wake of losses, Friday and Saturday, to Laval and Queen's.

The Rouge et Or went 3-and-0 on the weekend, earning the women's basketball pre-season tournament title.

Maheva Ngassam (Saint Hubert, QC) led the UNB effort on Sunday, scoring 18 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. She was named Tim Horton's Player of the Game.

"It feels good to work hard together," said Ngassam, who was also named a tournament all-star. "It was a tough weekend to start, but we bounced back really hard and we're happy to get a win today and finish on a good note."

"It helps us see that the work we're putting in is paying off and we're on a good direction for the season and we'll keep up the good work," she added.

Leah Travers (Calgary, AB) scored 16 points for UNB while Katie Butts (Ottawa, ON) scored 10 and grabbed 11 rebounds. First year RED Sashaneil Dabb (Halifax, NS) scored 13 points off the bench.

"It was a great bounce back in terms of our effort and hustle today," said REDS head coach Erin McAleenan. "I thought, especially, rebounding and being disruptive and forcing them to take tougher shots in some possessions was good. We were pretty aggressive getting the ball in the paint. At half we had 24 points in the paint, and we finished with 54 points in the paint where yesterday we settled for outside shots and let Queen's dictate."

McAleenan says she's happy with a lot of what she saw from her REDS in their first three pre-season games.

"Friday night, playing Laval, a very good and experienced team, first years didn't really, fully, look like first years," said McAleenan. "They came in and showed they could contribute in different ways, whether that was scoring and or defending, rebounding. What we saw over the course of this weekend was the different things that a lot of players on our team are going to be able to bring this year. Now it's just putting the pieces of the puzzle together."

The REDS now hit the road for more exhibition action.

They'll be in the nation's capital next weekend for a pre-season tournament at the University of Ottawa.

UNB faces Carleton on Thursday. Game time is 7:00pm Atlantic.

The REDS will also take on McGill and the host Gee Gees next weekend.

RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics

PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics