(HALIFAX, N.S.) – The Saint Mary's Huskies topped the Cape Breton Capers 63-49 on Sunday afternoon in the 2016 Subway AUS Women's Basketball Championship final.
This marks the Huskies' fourth consecutive AUS championship banner.
The top-seeded Huskies took to an early lead, as 11 points from Jenny Lewis (Fall River, N.S.) in the first quarter allowed Saint Mary's to pull ahead to a 21-8 lead at the end of one. Lewis hit three three-point shots in the opening quarter, adding to the Huskies' 52.9 field goal percentage.
Saint Mary's extended their lead throughout the second quarter as they topped Cape Breton 17-13 in points to hold a 34-25 lead at halftime.
The Capers looked for the comeback throughout the second half, as a three-point shot from Jalynn Skeir (Halifax, N.S.) with three minutes remaining in the third quarter put Cape Breton within 10 points.
A late quarter rush from Saint Mary's allowed them to extend their lead, holding a 49-34 edge with just 10 minutes remaining in regulation.
The Capers looked hopeful throughout the start of the fourth as two baskets from Hannah Brown (North Sydney, N.S.) narrowed the gap for the Capers, 49-38. But it was as close as they would come.
The Huskies pulled away to an eventual 63-49 victory and their fourth consecutive AUS championship banner.
The Subway championship MVP and member of the tournament all-star team, Angelina Carvery (Halifax, N.S), led the Huskies in points with 15. Jenny Lewis also earned a spot on the tournament all-star team, and was named the Subway player of the game for the Huskies after posting 13 points, two steals and a rebound.
The Wilsons Security AUS defensive player of the year, Kennisha-Shanice Luberisse (Montreal, Que.) was a force for the Huskies with 13 rebounds and four assists.
Hannah Brown (North Sydney, N.S.) led the Capers with a game-high 16 points, adding 12 rebounds, earning the Subway player of the game honour for Cape Breton.
The Wilsons Security defensive player of the game was Laura Langille (Bedford, N.S) from the Saint Mary's Huskies, who posted 13 points and nine rebounds in the Huskies victory.
Colleen Keane of Ajax, Ontario, was named the Wilsons Security defensive player of the game for Cape Breton, as well as a member of the tournament all-star team. Keane posted 13 points and added eight rebounds and two steals in the championship final.
The other members of the championship all-star team were Paloma Anderson (Phoenix, Arizona) of the Acadia Axewomen and Deidre Alexander (Woodstock, N.B) of the Dalhousie Tigers.
The Saint Mary's Huskies now advance to the 2016 ArcelorMittal Dofasco CIS Women's basketball Final 8 championship, being hosted by University of New Brunswick in Fredericton, N.B, March 17-20.
For more information on the CIS championship format, click here.