WOLFVILLE, N.S. – Clinching a playoff bye after last weekend, the Axewomen basketball team improved to 16-2 by edging the visiting UNB Varsity Reds 77-72 for a 4pt win in the standings. Trailing the V-Reds for the most part of the game, Acadia gained their largest lead of five with 3:27 remaining in the game and held onto the five point margin until the conclusion of the game.
Out-shot 50.9% from the floor by UNB, the Axewomen struggled with a 36.4% field goal percentage but made up the sluggish shooting percentage with 23 points off of turnovers and 20 from second chance points.
Acadia head coach Len Harvey will take the 4pt. win but pointed out that the game wasn't the team's best outing. "We struggled at times to put the ball in the hoop, but our biggest issue was how disconnected we were defensively. It is getting to playoff time, and we will really need to tighten the screws up in that area to expect to be a contender for the AUS championship. We were challenged, we responded, so I am happy with the result, but we still have lots of room to grow."
Out to a 10-4 lead early in the opening quarter, UNB held the Axewomen in check until 7:13 in the second frame when Allie Berry tied the game at 23 on a jump shot.
With a 41-39 halftime lead, the Varsity Reds extended the lead to a game high 12 points at 6:27 in the third quarter on a Rachel Cleary (Brantford, Ont.) jump shot and a Nicole Lafleur (Fredericton, N.B.) free throw.
On a 10-4 run, the Axewomen closed the gap to 55-49 late in the third frame and closed out the quarter trailing UNB 59-53.
Eight fourth quarter points from Chanel Smith (Halifax, N.S.) along with an additional four points from Allie Berry and Emily MacLeod (Fredericton, N.B.) tied the game at 65 with 5:30 remaining in the game.
A made layup by MacLeod combined with a made layup by Paloma Anderson (Phoenix, Arizona) plus one, pushed the lead to 72-67. Alyson Fulton (Merigomish, N.S.) solidified the win with a timely three pointer with 1:38 remaining in the game to give Acadia a 77-72 lead and win.
Rachel Cleary led the Varsity Reds with 17 points. Teammates Katelyn Mangold (Peterborough, Ont.) and Laura Kaye (Fredericton, N.B.) added 12 and 13 points respectively. Mangold led UNB with nine rebounds – eight of which were defensive. Cleary was named the UNB Player of the Game.
Third year guard Chanel Smith collected the Subway Player of the Game honours with 16 timely points of which 14 game in the second half. Allie Berry (Yarmouth, N.S.) posted a game high 21 points and nine rebounds. Berry was 10 for 16 from the floor and pulled down six defensive rebounds. Paloma Anderson rounded out eh scoring with 16 points. Rookie guard Alyson Fulton added 15 points off the bench.
The Axewomen will face the first place Saint Mary's Huskies next Tuesday night. UNB will host Acadia for the last game of the regular season. UNB hosts UPEI next Friday night followed by the rematch against the Axewomen. All games remaining for UNB and Acadia are four point games.