(ST. JOHN'S, N.L.) – The Memorial Sea-Hawks defeated the Acadia Axewomen 66-41 on Saturday evening and 73-58 on Sunday afternoon in AUS women's basketball. Two four point games were up for grabs as it was the first time the two teams met this season.
In the first of two games, the opening quarter was tight both teams wrapping it up at 12 points. Lindsay Taylor (Waterloo, O.N.) opened the second with a jump shot putting another three on the board for the Sea-Hawks. Acadia's Paloma Anderson (Phoenix, AZ) was quick to respond with two back to back jump shots. The quarter played out much the same as the first with both teams neck and neck. The Axewomen went into the half up by just one point over the home team with a score of 25-24.
In the third quarter the Sea-Hawks began to pull ahead after some foul trouble on Acadia's end, finishing the quarter up by 10. Memorial made their biggest gain in the fourth, outshooting Acadia 24 to nine thanks in part to a trio of three pointers from Lindsay Taylor. The home team sealed the deal 66-41 to take the victory.
Subway AUS Player of the Game was fifth year Kelia Pond (Goulds, N.L.) who was then promptly honoured as a graduating senior. Lindsay Taylor had a team-high 17 points off coach Doug Partridge's bench. Chante Clarke (Toronto, O.N.) contributed 13 of her own and 4 rebounds, also off the bench.
The Axewomen were led by second year forward Paloma Anderson with 19 points and nine rebounds in the loss. Allie Barrie (Yarmouth, N.S.) was next with 10 points and six rebounds.
Memorial improved to 9-8 on the season, officially clinching a playoff berth, while Acadia drops to 4-14 with the loss, giving up their spot at the AUS championships.
In the second weekend matchup, the Sea-Hawks defeated the Acadia Axewomen 73-58 on Sunday afternoon.
It was clear the Sea-Hawks meant business, opening the game 19 points over the Axewomen in the first quarter. Memorial was on the board in the first 10 seconds with a three-pointer from fifth year Kelia Pond (Goulds, N.L.). They continued to dominate the first half of the quarter, outshooting Acadia 18-10. In the next five minutes Memorial's defense prevented the Axewomen from scoring, while the offensive continued to keep it coming to finish the quarter up 29-10.
In the second quarter Memorial put another 15 on the board compared to Acadia's six. The Sea-Hawks opened strong again, preventing the Axewomen from scoring until almost half way through the quarter, leading at one point by as much as 25 points. Going into the half Memorial was up 44-16.
Acadia came into the second half recharged and outshot Memorial in both the third and fourth quarters but it wasn't enough to catch the home team. In the third, Paloma Anderson (Phoenix, AZ) of the Axewomen created the most opportunities in the field for her team, was solid from the free-throw line, and put one in from three-point distance.
The fourth saw Acadia shoot 100% from the free-throw line and produce 10 of 18 attempts in the field compared to Memorial's five of 13. Though the last quarter was their best of the game, the Axewomen could not do enough to cut the deficit. The Sea-Hawks took the game 73-58, sweeping the weekend series.
Memorial saw contributions across the board with a third of the teams scoring coming off the bench. Megan Robinson (Waterloo, O.N.) had a team-high 14 points and four assists in the win, earning Subway AUS Player of the Game honours in her final home game as a Sea-Hawk.
Anderson led the Axewomen, with 15 points and 3 rebounds. Second year forward Allie Berrie (Yarmouth, N.S.) had 14 points and 10 rebounds in the loss.
The Sea-Hawks improve to 10-8 with the win and move into the fourth playoff position. The Axewomen fall to 4-15 on the season and currently sit in seventh.
Memorial plays their last games of the season in Fredericton, N.B with two four-point games against the sixth seeded Varsity Reds on February 20 and 21. Acadia has only four points up for grabs when they host UPEI in their final game on Friday.