(CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I.) - The 2014 Subway AUS women's basketball championships kicked off in Charlottetown, P.E.I. with the Dalhousie Tigers (fifth seed) taking on the Memorial University Sea-Hawks (fourth seed) in the first of two quarterfinal games.
The two teams were separated in the final regular season standings by only one win and it showed throughout the game
The first half was a back and forth affair, with seven lead changes and six ties. Memorial was able to gain a slight advantage going ahead by six halfway through the second quarter.
However, Dalhousie rallied back to erase the lead forcing Memorial to call a timeout with 2:30 left in the half. The Sea-Hawks took a slight edge into halftime leading the Tigers 34-31.
Top performers at the midway point were Courtney Thompson and Rebecca Nuttall each with eight points for Dalhousie. Kelia Pond and AUS second team all-star Sandra Amoah paced Memorial with 10 and eight points respectively.
Memorial, led by Megan Robinson knocking down three straight threes, stretched their lead to eight early in the third.
Key stops by the Tigers allowed them to regain the lead, 51-50 with two minutes to go. The Sea-Hawks countered with a 6-1 run to end the quarter, capped off by a buzzer-beating layup to put the fourth-seeded Memorial squad up 56-52 heading to the final frame.
The narrative didn't changed in the fourth quarter, with both teams dead even at 59 at the six minute mark.
Dalhousie then forced Memorial to call a timeout after stringing together four straight hoops to go up four with 4:00 to play.
The Sea-Hawks tried to battle back but the dagger came with 1:30 remaining when Nuttall sank a shot from long distance to put the Tigers ahead for good.
Player of the game for Memorial was Kelia Pond with 15 points, four assists and one steal.
Subway Player of the Game from Dalhousie was AUS second team all-star Courtney Thompson, with 22 points, five assists, five rebounds and three steals.
The Dalhousie Tigers will now face the top-seeded Saint Mary's Huskies Saturday at 6 p.m. in the first of two semifinal games.
Source: UPEI Sports Information