WOLFVILLE, N.S. – All good things must come to an end and it did so this Saturday night as the CIS No. 10 ranked Axewomen fell short in extending their winning streak to 16 as the visiting Cape Breton Capers improve to 10-5 with a hard fought 69-52 win over the host Axewomen.
With the pressure of maintaining the streak, the Axewomen looked flat at times and with their first loss of the regular season the red hot Axewomen can focus on the remaining weeks of the regular season.
Heard coach Len Harvey is relieved that they can now move on. "Cape Breton was the aggressor in all areas tonight and we didn't match their intensity. The pressure of the streak was becoming a whole other thing to manage, so that pressure is relieved. We would much rather lose in early February than in March. We will regroup this week and get ready for Saint Mary's."
Caper sharp shooter Alison Keough (Marion Bridge, N.S.) netted a game high 18 points and added 9 rebounds and three steals for the Cape Breton win.
Trailing the Capers 16-9 after the first quarter, Axewoman Chanel Smith (Halifax, N.S.) tied the game at 18 after a made free throw at 6:18 of the second frame. But the Capers would continue to push for the lead, closing out the first half with a 27-23 edge.
The Axewomen would trail Cape Breton for the remainder of the game – uncharacteristic for Acadia since first half leads by opponents this season have fallen in the final quarter.
With a 47-40 lead after three quarters, Cape Breton extended the lead to a game high 17 points in the closing minute of the game. The Capers had 22 points off of turnovers and added 34 points from the paint. Out shooting the Axewomen in all categories except free throws, the Capers played aggressively defensively by posting 36 defensive boards.
Paloma Anderson (Phoenix, Arizona) led the Axewomen with only 15 points while teammates Chanel Smith and Emily MacLeod (Fredericton, N.B.) drained 13 and nine points respectively. MacLeod led Acadia with 10 rebounds.
Caper Collen Keane (Ajax, Ont.), named the Subway Player of the Game, had 17 points and 10 boards. Hannah Brown (North Sydney, N.S.) posted 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Cape Breton improves to 10-5 and sits comfortably in third place, four points ahead of the trailing UNB Varsity Reds, while the Axewomen are now tied with Saint Mary's with one loss on the season. The Axewomen take the regular four game series against Cape Breton with three wins.
The Capers and Axewomen head to Halifax next Friday to take on the Dalhousie Tigers and Saint Mary's Huskies respectively.