WOLFVILLE, N.S. - Huge second-quarter gives Huskies an unbreakable lead in their home-opening 79-65 win against Acadia.
Saturday, October 30th - Saint Mary's wins their starting tip in their second matchup against Acadia in two days, but can't complete a first scoring drive. Acadia capitalizes on the rebound to run a quick transition jump-shot by 2nd-year wing Elizabeth Iseyemi and open up a 7-point run early in the 1st.
Huskies forward Lucina Beaumont ( Fredericton NB / Commerce) is first to put Saint Mary's on the board with a 3-point jumper at 7:43.
Acadia's Iseyemi shows up on both ends of the court, with 3 steals, 6 rebounds and a quarter-leading 8 points in the opening frame. The Axewomen close the 1st up 28-9 after a run of 8 unanswered points, with 6 of the 9 Huskies points belonging to Beaumont.
In the second half, the Huskies found their groove, and settle in, driving the offensive lanes and their starters show-up big. Beaumont's jump shot at 4:41 narrowed the gap to 1 point, building off a successful 14-point run by the Huskies within the first four minutes of the 2nd. Guards Alaina McMillan (Brantford ON / Arts) and Clara Gascoigne (Dartmouth NS / Commerce) combine for a total 19 points within the quarter to add to Beaumont's 10.
The Huskies outscore Acadia 32-4 in the 2nd, shooting 56% from the field. Acadia gets into some foul trouble in the quarter, with two of their starters Iseyemi and veteran wing Jayda Veinot at 3 fouls apiece. Beaumont bangs in a 3-pointer buzzer-beater to end the half, putting her team up 41-32.
A back-and-forth shoot out in the 3rd dips the Huskie's lead to 6 points at 7:05 with a soft-falling lay-up by rookie Sarah Delorey, who grabs 4 points for the Acadia bench in the 3rd. Acadia is able to find some holes in the Huskies defense, with a big offensive rebound and finished lay-up by Iseyemi at 3:48, narrowing the gap again to 6. After a quick exchange of baskets between the starting line-ups, the 3rd ends with a 59-48 Huskies lead, with Veinot close to fouling out at 4.
The fourth opens with both teams in full hustle on both ends resulting in no points scored in the first two minutes. An exchange of 3-pointers between Huskies' 3-rd year guard, Sarah Forgie (New Westminister BC / Commerce), and Axewomen's Veinot are the earliest points in the quarter, keeping the lead consistent. Saint Mary's is well defended in the 4th and unable to find good looks to beat the shot clock. Acadia defends the paint well, making it hard for the Huskies to break through to the basket. Beaumont's pull-up 3-point jumper with 12 seconds remaining gives the Huskies their biggest lead of the night, at 16 points. The game ends in a lay-up by Megan Herbert off the Acadian bench for a final score of 79-65.
Saint Mary's Lucina Beaumont is named Subway's player of the game with a total of 23 points, 6 rebounds and 1 assist.
The Huskies will face UNB REDS next in a double-header weekend at home starting November 5th. Acadia will face the St. F.X. X-Women on Wednesday, Nov 3rd on the road.
Writing Credit: Lauren Phillips
Photo Credit: Nick Pearce