FREDERICTON, NB – The UNB Varsity Reds women's basketball team jump-started their first game of the Accreon Helen Campbell and Eric Garland Basketball Tournament with a 67-51 win over the University of Toronto Varsity Blues.
Rachel Cleary (Branford, ON) led the way with for the Varsity Reds with 21 points in the game, and was named UNB's player of the game for her efforts.
Deidre Edwards (Ancaster, ON) was honored with the award for the Blues with eight points and six rebounds.
Both teams got off to a slow start with a fair number of fouls and turnovers as UNB took the lead and ended the first quarter just one point ahead with a score of 13-12 and then 32-26 at the half.
Cleary totaled 10 points in the first half and shot 2-4 at the free throw line. Top point getter for the Blues was Keyira Parkes who shot 2-3 from the paint and had a total of 6 points.
Both teams were able to give their starters and bench players some playing time.
"It's a luxury. All 12 players that dressed played.- we had a ton of foul trouble – four of our starters had three fouls in the third quarter so we're going to need depth every night," said coach Jeff Speedy.
In the third quarter the Blues continued to push and a big three-point shot from Rashida Atkinson had the game all tied up at 37 with two minutes and change on the clock. The game remained all tied up 41-41 at the end of the third. Toronto outshot UNB 15-9 in the quarter.
The fourth quarter defense forced turnovers by both teams and a big steal by Laura Kay mid-way through saw her driving hard to the net, putting up a beautiful lay-up to put UNB up by six. With a final push, UNB posted a 67-51 win over the Blues.
It was that steal that energized the UNB squad. "Our team needs to force some turnovers and get some easy baskets off those turnovers, so when we're not doing that we don't seem to have the engagement and energy that we need."
"We had some really nice pass deflections by our posts and we got two or three nice steals in the forecourt that led to easy baskets. We need to get those easy baskets whether its turnovers or offensive rebounding and I think we did both of those quite well at times tonight," continued Speedy.
"It was nice to play," said Speedy about their first game. "We get so anxious for the season to start and it's nice to see them do their thing."
Play continues for both teams tomorrow as the Blues take on St.FX at 2pm and the Reds go up against Lethbridge at 6pm.
