(FREDERICTON, NB) It wasn't the way the UNB Varsity Reds imagined opening their season.

The Varsity Reds fell 75-53 to the Bishop's University Gaiters, in the first game for both teams at UNB's annual Helen Campbell Tournament.

"It was definitely not the start to the year we wanted," said Varsity Reds guard Laura Kaye(Fredericton, NB). "I think it was really our defence that let us down, and not being patient on offence."

Kaye led the home team with 20 points.

Edith Noblecilla(Guayaquil, ECU) scored a game high 25 points for the Gaiters.

"We used our quickness and we caused them some problems," said Gaiters' head coach Craig Norman. "We have a terrific point guard(Noblecilla), and we just tried to spread them out a bit and get them to play our game."

"It was a very disappointing effort on our part," said Varsity Reds head coach Jeff Speedy. "We didn't play hard, consistently, at all. There were times when we were insanely outworked, so that was disappointing, because that's not usually a problem with us."

After Kaye's effort, UNB's offence was spread between a handful of players, but no one else in double digits.

Speedy says they have to be better at both ends of the floor.

"We had 33 turnovers, so clearly we weren't playing with poise and taking care of the ball the way we need to," he said.

Kaye feels the game got away because of the pressure Bishop's put on the VReds.

"First game, obviously, we haven't seen a team give us pressure, we haven't practiced for that, so that was probably the biggest factor," said the fourth year guard.

The Varsity Reds get a chance to fix things immediately.

They face the Lakehead University Thunderwolves, on Saturday.

"It's probably better to have a game tomorrow than to have to wait a week to try and do it," said Speedy.

Saturday will see the Gaiters take on the Dalhousie Tigers.