(HALIFAX, N.S.) – The fifth-seeded Cape Breton Capers defeated the No. 4 seed Memorial Sea-Hawks 62-57 Thursday evening in the first of two quarter-final matchups in the Subway AUS Women's Basketball Championship.
The Capers opened up the scoring and led Memorial 13-7 halfway through the first quarter. From there, Cape Breton held Memorial pointless as they went on a 14-0 run to bring the game to 25-7.
By the end of the first quarter, the Capers led the Sea-Hawks 27-11.
Cape Breton came out strong again in the second, increasing their lead to 33-11 in the first two minutes.
Memorial found their groove with three minutes remaining in the half, bringing the game back to within 12 points, 35-23. But the Capers pulled away once again, going into halftime up 46-25.
The Capers' Colleen Keane (Ajax, Ont.) and Valentina Primossi (Trieste, Italy) led the first half scoring with 11 points apiece.
Early in the third quarter, a shot clock violation was reversed in favor of Memorial and gave the Sea-Hawks a spark of intensity. Fifth-year forward Kelia Pond (Goulds, N.L.) posted 14 points for Memorial in the quarter, including three threes and added another seven rebounds.
Cape Breton led 55-35 at the end of the third.
The Sea-Hawks flipped the script in the fourth quarter, keeping the Capers off the scoreboard until five minutes in.
With five minutes remaining in the final frame, Cape Breton led Memorial 57-48.
With four minute left to play, a clear path foul was called in favour of Memorial's Carolyn Adams (Ottawa, Ont.) and the Sea-Hawks brought the score to within seven points, with Cape Breton leading 59-52.
The Capers held off the Sea-hawks who pushed hard to the end and brought the game within five points. But it would not be enough as the final score stood at 62-57 for the Cape Breton Capers.
Subway player of the game for the Capers was third-year forward Colleen Keane who finished the game with 16 points, two rebounds, two assists and a steal.
Kelia Pond earned Subway player of the game nods for the Sea-Hawks, posting 14 total points, eight rebounds, an assist and a steal.
Memorial's Sandra Amoah (Toronto, Ont.) was named Wilsons Security defensive player of the game. She had two steals and five defensive rebounds for the Sea-Hawks' defence and added 10 points and three assists.
Wilsons Security defensive player of the game for the Capers was second-year forward Rasheeka Gunn (Oakville, Ont.), who posted 10 defensive rebounds, a block and a steal for the Cape Breton defence. She also chipped in 13 points and three offensive rebounds in the win.
The Capers will now advance to the Subway AUS Women's Basketball semifinals to face the Saint Mary's Huskies on Saturday Feb. 28 at 12 p.m. at the Scotiabank Centre.