WOLFVILLE, N.S. – The Acadia Axewomen won their Friday night matchup against the UNB Reds by a score of 82-59 and improving to 10-3 and moving into a first place tie with Memorial.
The Axewomen kicked the game off with a 17-1 run before the Reds finally made their first field goal with 3:20 remaining in the first quarter. Eventually, the fouls started to pile up for Acadia and the Reds were able to pull within nine points at 22-13 after one frame.
Haley McDonald (Port Williams, N.S.) hit her first attempted three of the evening, moving her into first place on the all-time three-pointers made list in Axewomen history. With her 157th made three-point shot she passes Acadia alumna Emma Duinker's 156. She ended the game three three-point baskets, putting her at 159 three-point shots made, which is fourth place in AUS women's basketball history.
Acadia built on their lead in the second quarter, bringing the score to 43-26. Axewomen rookie Julia Sylvester (Hamilton, Ont.) led all players with 8 rebounds in the first half while also contributing 6 points and an assist.
The Reds struggled from beyond the arch, making two of ten (20.0%) of their threes while Acadia went four for seven (57.1%) in the opening half.
At the end of the third quarter, Acadia was up by a score of 64-43, making a comeback very improbable for the Reds.
The Axewomen locked the Reds down in the fourth quarter and took the first game of a two-game weekend series 82-59.
UNB's Katie Daley (Hanwell, N.B.) played an efficient game, going 4-6 from the field and 4-5 from the line for 13 points as well as six rebounds. The Reds drop to 7-6 and with 20 points, trail UPEI who sits in third place in the AUS standings with 24 points.
At the end of the game, McDonald was presented with the game ball and named the Subway Player of the Game. She had 19 points (game-high), 6 rebounds, and 4 assists.
After the game, McDonald was asked how important it was to get the first win against UNB in their two-game series.
"Super important," McDonald said. "I think this gives us a lot of confidence into tomorrow night. We have to think about that everyone will be tired tomorrow. UNB just played 40 minutes too, so I think tomorrow is going to be a really good game. We are probably not going to get as much into a track race as today, but I am excited to play tomorrow."
Teams will meet again on Saturday evening at 6:00 p.m. for a rematch. Saturday evening is Acadia Athletics' Bell Lets Talk Night.
Submitted by Theodore Giesen, Acadia Athletics Communications
Photos by Peter Oleskevich