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Full team effort propels Huskies to 82-77 win over REDS to sweep weekend series
Posted: Nov 12, 2022

Full team effort propels Huskies to 82-77 win over REDS to sweep weekend series

Tickets Photos Box Score
Game Leaders
UNB
Pts: Jayda Veinot - 28
Reb: 2 Players (#9, #33) - 7
Ast: Marley Curwin - 4
Saint Mary's
Pts: Sophia Widmeyer - 19
Reb: 3 Players (#6, #8, #13) - 5
Ast: 2 Players (#13, #22) - 3
Team Stats
Full stats

HALIFAX, NS – Nine different Huskies scored as Saint Mary's defeated the U SPORTS #7 ranked UNB REDS 82-77 on Saturday night at the Homburg Centre in Halifax.

Coming off an instant classic 85-84 overtime win on Friday night, Saturday night's tilt saw the two AUS heavyweights continue to play high quality, competitive basketball with five lead changes on the night.

The REDS took an early lead thanks to some strong play inside by forward Katie Butts (Ottawa, ON). A three by reigning AUS MVP Jayda Veinot (Port Williams, NS), gave the REDS a 23-16 lead, but Huskies forward Marlo Steenbakkers (Ottawa, ON) was able to respond with a triple of her own, and the REDS led 23-19 after the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Saint Mary's quickly took the lead with a 6-0 run capped off by a steal and fastbreak layup by forward Katelyn Power (Bayside, NS). All-star point guard Alaina McMillan (Brantford, ON) knocked down a deep three to extend the lead to 35-29 midway through the quarter.

Unlike Friday's game, when the Huskies starters combined to score 79 of 85 points, the Huskies got great production from their bench in the first half, with Power, and reserve guards Sarah Forgie (New Westminster, BC), Isabella MacKay (New Glasgow, NS) and Aki Kobayashi (Halifax, NS) combining to score 14 first half points, including nine in the second quarter. MacKay's putback layup gave the Huskies a 43-38 lead at the half.

All nine Huskies who appeared in the game scored in the first half, with McMillan's nine points leading the way. The REDS were led by Veinot's 14 and Butts' 10 points.

The back-and-forth continued in the third quarter, with Veinot hitting a pair of free-throws to tie the score at 49-49. Once again, the Huskies bench helped them go on a run, with guard Clara Gascoigne (Dartmouth, NS) scoring six points and Kobayashi contributing a spinning lay-up, steal and assist to put them up 56-51.

The Huskies finished the quarter on a 14-6 run, with an and-one lay-in by Forgie giving the Huskies a 63-55 lead heading into the fourth.

The Huskies continued their run to start the fourth quarter, outscoring the REDS 8-2, with a trio of Sophia Widmeyer (Dartmouth, NS) free-throws giving the Huskies their largest lead of the game, 71-57 with just over five minutes remaining, and a nice pick-and-roll between McMillan and Steenbakkers put them up by 10 with just 3:20 remaining.

The REDS clawed back thanks to some great shotmaking by Veinot, who scored nine of her game high 28 points in the fourth, and a pair of Kylee Speedy (Fredericton, NB) free throws cut the Huskies lead to 76-72. McMillan was clutch down the stretch, hitting four late free throws, to secure the 82-77 victory.

Aki Kobayashi was named Subway Player of the Game with six points, four rebounds and three assists, with her playmaking and defensive intensity down the stretch helped the Huskies get the win.

"This weekend was big for us, They're a really great team." said Kobayashi post-game. "I always come off the bench, so I try to bring energy to the court. We didn't start well at the beginning of the third quarter, so I just tried to change the game and that worked."

For the second night in a row, Sophia Widmeyer led the Huskies in scoring with 19 points, including a perfect 11/11 from the free-throw line, and added five rebounds and three assists. Alaina McMillan added 18 points including 8/8 from the free-throw line, and the Huskies shot 93% (25/27) as a team from the charity stripe.

The REDS were led by Jayda Veinot with a season-high 28 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Katie Butts added 15 points and six rebounds, while Kylee Speedy chipped in 12 points off the bench.

The Huskies win improved their record to 5-1 on the campaign. They'll hit the road next Friday to take on the Cape Breton Capers in Sydney, N.S., with tip-off scheduled for 6 p.m.

The REDS loss dropped their record to 4-2 on the season. They'll be back in action on Friday, hosting the UPEI Panthers in Fredericton, with tip-off scheduled for 6 p.m.

Recap by Allan April / SMU Huskies Athletics
Photos by Mona Ghiz / SMU Huskies Athletics