REDS Hang On To Advance

(HALIFAX, NS) The UNB REDS advanced to the semi-finals at the Subway Atlantic University Sport Women's Basketball Championship Friday, defeating the Memorial Sea-Hawks 77-76 in overtime.

"Well, I entered the game a 53-year-old and I came out of the game a 63-year-old," said UNB head coach Jeff Speedy. "They're a heck of a basketball team. This time of year, it's about winning and advancing. We didn't exactly play great, but we did enough things to get the win."

The REDS were led by fifth-year guard Jayda Veinot (Port Williams, NS), who finished with 27 points, 16 rebounds and six assists. Veinot's double-double netted her Subway Player of the Game honours.

"I think we let it be a bit of a messy game today," said Veinot. "At the end of the day, we gritted through what wasn't clean basketball and came out with the win and I don't think you can ask for much more than that."

It was a slow start to the game for both teams as they were trying to settle their nerves and get into their game plan.

The Sea-Hawks were led by Alana Short (St. John's, NL), who led the team with 22 points.

Memorial led 41-35 at the half.

In the second, REDS center Katie Butts (Ottawa, ON) started hot, scoring seven of her 16 points to fuel a 9-2 UNB run.

"I think we have an advantage at that position against a lot of teams," said Speedy. "With Katie and Jennie [Nkuah] (Brampton, ON) in there, I think that's a strength of our team and we feel really good about that position."

The teams continued to trade points, with MUN holding a narrow 56-55 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

In the fourth, the REDS used a 5-2 run to jump out to a narrow lead, but the Sea-Hawks were able to respond and tie the game.

Forty minutes would solve nothing, and they needed overtime.

With the game on the line and Memorial holding the ball, MUN's leading scoring, Short, was unable to put home the game winning layup and the REDS held on.

"I think we've had some close games this year and the girls on the court stayed together and composed in the moment," said Veinot. "So even if things weren't going our way in the end of the game, we were still together and focused on getting one stop at the time."

UNB will now set their sights on the Acadia Axewomen and Saturday's semi-final round. Game time is 1:00pm, at the Scotiabank Centre.

"Acadia is a very talented team and they're very experienced here," said Veinot, a former Axewoman. "But every game is going to be tough here, so you have to be able to beat all of the team if you want to win it."

RECAP BY: Evan Richtsfeld/UNB Athletics

PHOTOS BY: Nick Pearce/for Atlantic University Sport