WOLFVILLE, N.S. - It was another exciting match between the two top scoring teams in the AUS, the U Sports No. 10 ranked Capers and the Acadia Axewomen Saturday in a rare afternoon game. The Axewomen came out victorious with a 78-69 win after five minutes of overtime play.
"We erased all the other games off the board and focused on Friday night's game, then moved on immediately after the win last night to get ready for today", commented head coach Len Harvey after the weekend sweep of the Capers.
"They came with more pressure today, we knew they would do that", pointed out Harvey. "I thought we handled it ok at times. Once we got composed against it we were fine. They are a tough defensive team and made us work today for our scores."
Axewomen had a good start, scoring on their first possession. Pushing for transitions paid off for the Axewomen in the first half, and they again had success breaking through the Capers defense.
After a scoreless three minutes in the first quarter, the teams were tied 15-15 after 8 minutes of play. Paloma Anderson (Pheonix, Arizona) hit a pull-up three to push Acadia ahead. Anderson built on the last game's scoring streak, adding 17 points at half, and Acadia ended the quarter with a tight 18-17 lead.
The back and forth continued into the second period and a three-point shot from fifth-year Jalynn Skeir (Halifax, N.S.) pushed the Capers ahead, but it was soon tied up again. Kelsey Rice (Beaver Bank, N.S.) led the way for the Axewomen in the second quarter, with eight points off the bench, helping Acadia take a four- point lead over the first place Capers at the half.
Back-to-back free throws by Chanel Smith (Halifax, N.S.) and eight points in the third quarter, allowed Acadia to extend their lead. Kelsey Rice beat the buzzer to drive the score to 55-46 for the Axewomen going in to the final quarter.
Strong play from Valentina Primossi (Trieste, Italy), who led the Capers with 20 total points, pushed the Capers ahead in the last half of the fourth quarter. Solid defensive possession from Acadia was able to hold the Capers off, and the Axewomen trailed by only one point with one-minute left.
Game standout Chanel Smith put Acadia back ahead, but a free throw from three time AUS all-star Alison Keough (Marion Bridge, NS) tied it 69-69 to bring the game into overtime.
A high number of fouls kept senior players Anderson, Allie Berry (Yarmouth, N.S.), and Smith on the bench for the first 7 minutes of overtime play, but senior guard Alyson Fulton (Merigomish, NS) managed to sink six points to give the Axewomen a one-point lead, before key players Smith, Anderson, and Berry returned for the last 3 minutes of overtime.
Anderson and Smith performed under pressure, and a three-point jump shot from Smith in the last 25 seconds of overtime to help the Axewomen solidify their lead on the Capers. Free throws from Paloma Anderson and Katie Ross extended the lead to nine points, and the Axewomen took the game 78-69 after overtime.
Anderson had a game high 25 points and teammate Smith netted 22 points. In the Caper lineup, Keough had a below average game with only 14 points, while teammate Valentina Primossi added 20.
A second win over the top-ranked Capers puts the Axewomen one step closer to clinching a playoff spot. Next up, the Axewomen take on the Saint Mary's Huskies, while the Capers take on UNB in a four-point game.
Source: Laura Jeha, Acadia Athletics Communications Office