Varsity Reds Women's Basketball So Close

Varsity Reds Women's Basketball So Close
March 7, 2011

University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds were second-seed behind defending conference champion Cape Breton Capers going into the Atlantic University Sport women's basketball championship tournament at Memorial University in St. John's, N.L., and that's where they ended up when all was said and done.

V-Reds, who finished six points in arrears of Cape Breton during the season, lost 65-60 to Cape Breton in yesterday's conference final, trailing 31-25 at the half and while outscoring Cape Breton 19-16 in the third quarter, could not make up the difference when it came down to the fourth and final quarter of play.

Jahlica Kirnon had 17 points and Kari Everett added 16 to lead the Capers against UNB. Tanira McClurkin chipped in with 10 points. Denisha Haywood was dominant on the boards, hauling down 14 rebounds, 12 of them defensively.

The conference player of the year, fifth-year Amanda Sharpe, ended her UNB career with 20 points while Leah Corby, also in her fifth season, added 18 points. Rookie Claire Colbourne, named rookie of the year in the AUS, added 14 points for the V-Reds in the losing effort.

They also played a bronze medal game with St. Francis Xavier X-Women defeating host Memorial University SeaHawks 56-35. Kirsten Jones had 20 points for X while Brittany Dalton led Memorial with 14 points. X led 27-16 at the half.

On Saturday, UNB advanced with a 78-58 victory over the X-Women in semifinal play. Leah Corby again had the hot hand with 23 points while Colbourne added 17 points and five rebounds. Emma Russell had 13 points for UNB with Sharpe getting 12 points and five rebounds. Jones led X-Women with 13 points with Donisha Young getting 12 and Ashley Stephen 11. Fredericton's Rebecca Sheehan, in her second season at St. FX, had six points. Cape Breton eliminated Memorial 72-66 in the other semifinal despite trailing 39-36 at the half. Kirnon had 19 points for the Capers with Everett adding 12. Brittany Dalton led Memorial with 21 points while Grace Fishbein added 19.