Huskies clinch play-off spot with OT win over Cape Breton

(HALIFAX, NS) — The Saint Mary's women's basketball team held its ground again on home turf, trailing by as much as 14 points before turning the tide, forcing overtime and finishing out a 96-91 win over visiting Cape Breton University at Homburg Centre.

CBU's Hailey MacLeod (Marion Bridge, NS) paced all scorers with 31 points and recorded a double-double with 12 rebounds in the loss.

Sophomore guard Alaina McMillan (Brantford, ON) led the Huskies with 30 points and a game-high seven steals in the win.

Cape Breton jumped out to an early lead in the opening minutes and built a 21-16 lead after 10 minutes.

The Huskies outscored the Capers 19-13 in the second quarter and took a two-point lead into the half, 35-34.

The Capers used a 25-14 scoring pace in the third quarter to regain the lead after thirty minutes, 58-49.

The final frame saw SMU claw back and the scoring pace was even, 18-18 in the quarter and both teams were tied 77-77 after 40 minutes.

CBU opened the over time frame with a quick jump shot and the Huskies answered with two buckets of their own for an 82-79 lead. A 7-2 CBU run pushed the Capers ahead 86-84 with 2:11 left in the game. SMU used three three-pointers to seal the game in the last 1:22 and hold on for the 86-91 victory,

MacKenzee Ryan (Glace Bay, NS) added 16 points and nine rebounds for CBU while Maia Watling (Palmerston North, New Zealand) chipped in 15 points and Monique Calliste (Toronto, ON) had 13, as the Capers drop to 6-10 on the year.

SMU had all five starters score in double-figures, with Lucina Beaumont (Fredericton, NB) adding 17 points, Arianna Macias (Tampa, Florida) had 14, Kendra MacKinnon (Pictou, NS) scored 13 and Clara Gascoigne (Dartmouth, NS) chipped in 10 points for the Huskies, who improve to 8-9 and jump CBU in AUS standings.

NEXT: 
CBU continues their Halifax road trip Sunday Feb. 9 versus the Dal Tigers at 1 p.m. while SMU has a home-home series with StFX on the road Wednesday Feb. 12 at 6 p.m. and at home Friday Feb. 14 at 6 p.m. for Senior Night.

Dominic Nolasco, SMU

Photo Mona Ghiz