VReds Return Home For A Pink Weekend

It’s not just another weekend at the University of New Brunswick. Not at all.

It’s UNB’s Think Pink Week in support of breast cancer and the UNB Varsity Reds Women’s Basketball Team will be involved heavily in the Shoot For the Cure games with a keen eye on stepping it up even more in the Atlantic University Sport conference.

The VReds savoured every moment from last weekend when they won a pair of games including a 94-83 triumph over the Dalhouse University Tigers and a 75-64 victory over the Acadia University Axettes.

UNB welcomes the University of Prince Edward Island Panthers to the Lady Beaverbrook Gymnasium for games Friday (6 p.m.) and a rare Saturday matinee (1 p.m.). The VReds sit 5-2 at home and host an overall conference mark of 11-4.

Making a statement this weekend playing for such an outstanding cause will certainly solidify UNB’s playoff position and late season expectations. “Our wins last weekend clinched a playoff spot for us,“ stated Head Coach Jeff Speedy. “Finishing as high as possible in the standings is not really our focus though. We just want to keep getting better.”

So what is more important … getting two wins or the Shoot For The Cure initiative?

“Good question, Can I say both?” asked Coach Speedy. “We’re very excited about the role we play in the UNB Think Pink Week and our Shoot For the Cure Games. Hopefully we can play well and raise a lot of money along with it.”

Now that would be the perfect double dip.

The Varsity Reds have won three straight games entering the weekend and it’s about building momentum. Although the club missed the entire Super Bowl last Sunday during the trip back from Nova Scotia, that’s okay. The mood on the bus was all good.

“We came off our third two game sweep on the road this season when we only won two road games all of last year,” Speedy said. “We played unselfish basketball and some pretty good defense when we had to buckle down. I loved how we moved the ball and how we truly played together as a team.”

Amanda Sharpe was exceptional on the weekend. The fifth-year force hit for 30 or more points in both games and Speedy said it was a treat to watch her teammates follow her lead and that of Leah Corby, Claire Colborne and Megan Corby.

“It’s fun to watch when our leading scorers put points on the board,” he said. “Our other players simply stepped up and had great games. It’s a snowball effect and we want to keep that rolling.”