Capers cruise to 70-53 victory over Reds in AUS women’s basketball action

Capers cruise to 70-53 victory over Reds in AUS women's basketball action

By Corey LeBlanc

Sydney, N.S. – The Cape Breton University (CBU) Capers (4-4) defeated the visiting UNB Reds (3-6) 70-53 in Atlantic University Sport (AUS) women's basketball action at Sullivan Field House on Saturday afternoon.

"I think we played pretty well – it was a huge four-point win for us," CBU sophomore forward Hailey MacLeod (Marion Bridge, N.S.), the Subway player of the game, said.

She noted, when asked about the keys to victory, the focus on "pushing the pace," and getting into their transition game, while taking care of rebounding – on both ends.

In the first quarter, the Capers jumped to a 5-0 lead in the opening three minutes, led by the aggressiveness of Kiyara Letlow (Toronto, ON) – particularly on the offensive glass. The advantage could have been larger for the home side, but CBU missed a handful of early lay-up attempts.

Midway through the opening stanza, MacKenzee Ryan (Glace Bay, N.S.) nailed a three-pointer to give the Capers a 9-2 edge.

After the fourth-year guard muscled up a lay-in through traffic, CBU took its first double-digit lead – at 17-7.

The Capers finished a low-scoring first quarter up 17-9.

Early in the second quarter, the Reds made a 6-2 spurt to trim the CBU lead to 23-17.

The Capers responded, stretching their lead to double-figures, keyed by a deft turnaround jumper from Hailey MacLeod (Marion Bridge, N.S.), which made it 29-17.

McKinley Bezanson (Hantsport, N.S.) canned a corner three-pointer to pull the Reds within nine – at 29-20.

Finishing the first half on a 10-3 run, the Capers led 33-20 heading to the locker room.

In the third quarter, the Reds came out firing, with Jolianne Guay (Prevost, QC) draining a corner jumper from downtown.

The Capers answered with an 11-4 spurt, ignited by back-to-back hoops from MacLeod to make it 44-27 – the largest edge of the afternoon.

After the Reds responded with five consecutive points, including a Kylee Speedy (Fredericton, N.B.) basket from beyond the arc – to shave the lead to 44-32, the Capers took a timeout.

Freshman guard Leandra Hersey (Saint John, N.B.) – out of that break – nailed a three-pointer to restore the 15-point edge for CBU.

MacLeod wrapped up third-quarter scoring with a put-back of her miss, after taking a stellar feed from freshman guard Chermensa van la Parra (Rotterdam, Netherlands).

The Capers led 54-36.

In the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, the CBU advantage ballooned to 61-36 – spurred by a 7-0 burst keyed by a three-pointer by freshman Hannah Smith (Bedford, N.S.).

The Reds' effort to rally was unsuccessful; hampered by ice-cold shooting from the field – they finished at 25 percent – the visitors could get no closer than 17 points in the final minutes.

Letlow led the Capers, with 21 points, while completing the double-double with 21 rebounds. She also chipped in one assist, one steal and one blocked shot.

MacLeod, with 18 points and 10 rebounds, also fashioned a double-double, while adding two steals and one assist.

Ryan contributed a rock-solid 14 points, six assists, and five rebounds.

For the Reds, Speedy – off the bench – finished with 11 points, while freshman Katie Butts (Ottawa, ON) added six points and 20 rebounds, and sophomore point guard Katie McAffee (Lower Knowford, N.B.) had nine points and six rebounds.  

The Capers will be back on the court on Sunday, Nov. 28, at 1 p.m., when they host the Saint Mary's Huskies, while the Reds will return to AUS regular season play in January.

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