Varsity Reds fall to Huskies 58-54 in hotly contested match-up
The SMU Huskies remain undefeated after topping the Varsity Reds in a hotly contested game
Their undefeated streak nearly came to an end, but the SMU Huskies women's basketball team managed to keep it alive for a 58-54 win over the UNB Varsity Reds.
The Huskies, who are the top-ranked team in the AUS and currently ranked fourth in the CIS, haven't lost a regular season game since falling to St.FX on February 23, 2013.
The Varsity Reds, who are currently third in the AUS, came out strong and took the first quarter 22-13. As the second quarter got underway SMU answered back and within the first three and a half minutes, they were leading 26-24.
At that point the game went into a holding pattern with no baskets for over three minutes. The Varsity Reds would go into halftime down 30-25, having scored only three points that quarter.
UNB came back from halftime ready to get back into the game, and they managed to tie the score at 47 by the end of the third quarter.
The last ten minutes of play had the Huskies edging ahead and the V-Reds trying to counter back. It was a close game throughout, but SMU managed to stay just in front. When a foul sent Huskie Katrina Murrell to the line with 12 seconds on the clock, she stepped up to the challenge, sunk them both and sealed the victory.
Leading scoring for the Huskies was Angelina Carvery with 17 points, followed by Carly Nugent with 12. Leading scoring for the V-Reds was Laura Kaye with 14 points.
UNB head coach Jeff Speedy says he's obviously disappointed with the loss, especially having come so close to getting a win against the Huskies yesterday as well.
"I was hoping we'd be able to make the changes we needed to make after yesterday's game to come in here and pick up a win, and we didn't do that," Speedy said.
"I mean, they're the top-ranked team in the conference, but you never want to lose at home, especially when you really could have won if you had just executed differently."
The Varsity Reds play next on Saturday, January 17th, when they host Dalhousie at 6pm.
The Huskies play next on Tuesday, January 13th, when they host Acadia at the same time.