REDS Bounce Lakers In Campbell Opener
(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB REDS opened the 2023 Stewart-McKelvey Helen Campbell Tournament with a decisive 84-65 win over the Nipissing Lakers on Friday evening.
Jayda Veinot (Port Williams, NS) led all scorers with 26 points and was named the Tim Horton's Player of the Game.
The win came in Erin McAleenan's debut as head coach of the REDS.
"A win is a win, so I'm going to take that and run with it," said McAleenan. "We can score, and we have a lot to work on at the defensive end."
The REDS flexed their offensive muscle immediately, racing out to 10-4 lead over the first four minutes.
After an early Lakers time-out, the hosts pushed that lead to 16-4.
REDS' newcomer Addie Mombourquette (Fredericton, NB) made good on a three-point shot with less than four minutes to play in the opening quarter to put UNB up 22-6.
The home team was up 24-12 after ten minutes.
The Lakers played a much better second quarter, trimming UNB's lead to as few as eight, but the first half came to an end with the REDS up 50-37.
"I'm super pleased, obviously, with our start and I thought we played from the beginning right until the end," said McAleenan. "The biggest thing for us is we've got to be able to defend and keep the ball in front of us."
The Lakers pushed back in the second half, but couldn't find an answer for the REDS offence, falling 84-65.
Megan Mccarter (Wallaceburg, ON) led the Lakers with 17 points while Sophie Milner (Antigonish, NS) recorded a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
"Give credit to Nipissing, I thought they did a really good job of getting the ball inside and attacking all the way to the rim," said McAleenan. "We gave up way too many offensive rebounds, but for our first game out, we had contributions from lots of girls and it's exciting."
Kylee Speedy (Fredericton, NB) came off the REDS bench to score 19 points while Erin Ingalls (St. George, NB) added nine and Reese Baxendale (Sussex, NB) grabbed eight rebounds.
In the second game of the exhibition tournament, the Saint Mary's Huskies held off the Laval Rouge et Or 65-61.
The Huskies led 55-43 at the end of the third quarter before winning by just four.
Alaina McMillan (Brantford, ON) led the Saint Mary's effort with 15 points and eight rebounds while Lucy Beaumont (Fredericton, NB) added eight points and 14 rebounds.
Elodie Lajoie (Amos, QC) scored 15 points for Laval and Brinly Holt (Halifax, NS) came off the bench to add 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Action resumes Saturday with the REDS taking on Laval at 6:00pm. The Lakers and Huskies tangle at 8:00pm.
The weekend tourney wraps up Sunday with games 10:00am and 12:00pm.
RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics
PHOTOS BY: Kunal Mahajan/for UNB Athletics