REDS Suffer First Loss Of The Season To Capers

(SYDNEY, NS) The Cape Breton University Capers (4-3) defeated the visiting UNB REDS (6-1) 93-82 – handing them their first loss of the regular season – in Atlantic University Sport women's basketball action on Saturday afternoon at Sullivan Fieldhouse.

Erin Ingalls (St. George, NB) led the REDS, with 21 points, while adding five rebounds and three assists, while Katie Butts (Ottawa, ON) chipped in 15 points and eight rebounds.

Reese Baxendale (Apohaqui, NB), who added six assists, and Leah Travers (Calgary, AB) scored 11 points apiece, while Jayda Veinot (Port Williams, NS) also scored in double-figures for UNB.

Sparked by sharp interior play on both ends of the floor – led by Butts and Ingalls– the REDS jumped to a double-digit edge after a back-and-forth opening few minutes.

UNB led 27-18 after the first quarter.

On the strength of an early basket from Butts in the second quarter, the REDS restored an 11-point lead – at 29-18 – but the Capers answered, especially defensively, where they started making the path to the hoop much more difficult for the visitors.

CBU pecked away at the deficit, while forcing turnovers with a full-court trap, and eventually knotted the contest – at 41-41 – on a sensational drive and lay-up from first-year guard Hans Sarah Bailly (Montreal, QC).

After the REDS regained a slim lead late in the quarter, the Capers responded, with junior guard Chermensa van la Parra (Rotterdam, Netherlands) leading the charge.

A late drive and basket from the veteran, who finished with 15 points in the first half, trimmed the UNB lead to 51-50 heading into the locker room.

In the third quarter, the Capers gained the early momentum – the swing keyed by a three-pointer from beyond the arc from Chartwells player of the game Hailey MacLeod (Marion Bridge, NS) and a hoop-and-harm three-point effort from van la Parra.

CBU, who led by as many as seven points in the third, took a three-point edge – at 70-67 – to the fourth quarter.

After the REDS tied the contest in the early moments, the Capers – led, once again, by MacLeod and van la Parra – made a run and took an 84-75 advantage.

UNB answered, slicing the lead to 84-82, but CBU guard Hannah Smith (Bedford, NS) nailed a corner three-pointer, off a feed from MacLeod – who finished with six assists – to give the home side a five-point edge.

The Capers scored the final nine points to secure a double-digit victory.

The REDS will visit the Dalhousie Tigers in Halifax on Saturday, Nov. 25. Game time is 6:00 pm AST.

The Capers will return to action this weekend when they travel to St. John's for games versus the Memorial SeaHawks on Friday, Nov. 24 and Saturday, Nov. 25. Tip-off for both match-ups is 5:30 pm AST and 6:00 pm NST.

RECAP BY: Corey LeBlanc/CBU Athletics

PHOTOS BY: Vaughan Merchant/CBU Athletics