SYDNEY – The Acadia Axewomen (7-3) tipped off the post-Christmas regular season schedule in Atlantic University Sport (AUS) women's basketball with a thrilling 83-81 win over the Cape Breton University (CBU) Capers (4-6) on Friday evening at Sullivan Fieldhouse.
The visitors jumped to an 8-2 edge in the opening couple of minutes in the first quarter, keyed by the offensive talents of the Acadia one-two punch of Lizzie Iseyemi (Darmouth, NS) and Samantha Russell (Dartmouth, NS).
The Capers answered with an 8-0 spurt – sparked by a three-pointer by first-year guard Amanda Cruickshank (Montreal, QC) – to take a 10-8 advantage.
On the strength of a three-pointer from shooting guard Amanda Smith (Bedford, NS), CBU were ahead 17-14.
The Capers led the see-saw contest 26-22 after the first quarter.
Acadia opened the second quarter with a 7-1 burst, highlighted by five consecutive points from Russell, including an acrobatic drive to the basket and a shot from beyond the arc, to move ahead 29-27.
After sandwiching a Letlow hoop with three-point plays from Russell and Iseyemi, the Axewomen led 37-33.
Acadia took a 45-39 edge to the locker room.
In the first half, the Capers committed 14 turnovers, while the Axewomen coughed up the rock on only four occasions. On the boards, CBU fashioned a 25-13 advantage.
In the second half, the Axewomen came out strongly, especially Bianca Helmig (Speyer, Germany), as the visitors lead ballooned to a game-high 14 points, at 57-43. The sophomore guard garnered seven points in the early surge.
Super-sub Darah Fleurgin (Montreal, QC) – on both ends of the floor – ignited a Caper rally that sliced the Axewomen edge in half – at 60-53.
Aided by five consecutive points from Iseyemi, Acadia carried a 69-61 lead to the fourth quarter.
In the final stanza, CBU started on 15-2 run – one keyed by four and five consecutive points, respectively, from Fleurgin and Chermensa van la Parra (Rotterdam, Netherlands).
After an interior hoop from Letlow, the Capers led 76-71 heading down the stretch.
Trailing 79-76, CBU cranked up the 'D' and forced a shot clock violation that set the stage for a game-tying three-pointer by Smith, on an assist from Letlow.
Veteran Julia Sylvester (Dundas, ON), with her first of the game, and Letlow traded free throws to knot the contest at 81-81.
Sylvester regained the Acadia lead – at 83-81 – with a baseline jumper with 1.8 seconds remaining in regulation time.
Off a last-second inbound play from halfcourt, Fleurgin had a couple of tough chances to tie the game that fell short before a Cruickshank put-back went through the hoop just after the final buzzer.
Iseyemi, with 28 points, led four Axewomen in double figures – a list that also included Russell, with 22, and Helmig and Sylvester with 14 points apiece.
Russell added nine rebounds, while Iseyemi and Helmig collected four assists apiece.
For the Capers, Letlow finished with a double-double – a game-high 30 points and 15 rebounds.
Van la Parra added 19 points and seven assists, while Fleurgin chipped in 13 points and nine rebounds.
The teams will return to action on Saturday, Jan. 6, at 4 p.m., at Sullivan Fieldhouse.