(HALIFAX, NS) Jayda Veinot (Port Williams, NS) scored a game-high 30 points to lead the UNB REDS in a decisive 93-51 win over the Dalhousie Tigers, Saturday night in Halifax.
"We did a great job of moving the basketball in the second half and played some really good team basketball," said REDS' head coach Erin McAleenan.
The game opened with a made jumper from UNB's Katie Butts (Ottawa, ON) just over 20 seconds in.
First-year RED Lillian Fuller (Dartmouth, NS) got a first quarter basket off a beautiful pass from Megan Stewart (Saint John, NB), and Butts nailed a three-pointer in the dying moments as the UNB led 15-12 after one quarter.
Simona Matic (Belgrade, Serbia) opened the second quarter with a mid-range jumper to bring Dal within one point of the UNB lead.
Erin Ingalls (St. George, NB) got a tough and-one to fall and made the free throw to give the REDS a 21-19 with 5:11 left in the second.
With 3:12 left of the first half, Matic crossed up her defender and finished at the rim, again bringing the Tigers within one point.
Veinot, the 2022 Atlantic University Sport MVP, rejected a Dal player in transition at the rim with about two minutes left in the half.
At half-time, the REDS were up 35-29 as Kylee Speedy (Fredericton, NB) was left open for a mid-range jump shot with three seconds left.
Reese Baxendale (Sussex, NB) opened the third quarter with a three-point basket and the REDS dominated the quarter, out-scoring the Tigers 27-10.
UNB led 62-39 heading to the fourth quarter.
Veinot drained an early three-pointer to pace the REDS in the final ten-minutes and the visitors added to their lead, winning by 42.
Speedy and Butts both finished with 15 points. Butts added seven rebounds.
Kaitlyn Ferrier (Calgary, AB) scored 23 to lead the Tigers. Matic finished the night with a dozen.
"Defensively, I thought we tightened things up in the second half and limited their scoring opportunities," said Coach McAleenan. "I thought we really benefitted having contributions from a variety of players tonight."
Dalhousie's bench, in a combined 47 minutes, scored just eight points.
With the win, the REDS are now 7-and-1 and continue to sit atop the AUS standings.
The Tigers, at 0-and-9, are in last place.
Both teams now enter the holiday season break.
The REDS next action is January 5th, 2024, at UPEI.
The Tigers visit cross-town rivals Saint Mary's the same night.
RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics with files from Dal Athletics
PHOTOS BY: Terrel Beals/for Dal Athletics