Sea-Hawks Rebound, Beat REDS
(FREDERICTON, NB) The Memorial Sea-Hawks avoided a weekend sweep, beating the UNB REDS 79-62, in a four-point game, Sunday afternoon, at UNB's Currie Center.
The game was the only one on the Atlantic University Sport schedule on Sunday.
Alana Short (Barrie, ON) led the visitors with a game-high 20 points and added six rebounds. She was named Subway Player of the Game.
"I'm super happy we got the four points and earned the split," said Short. "We're going into our Christmas break on a high note, so that's great."
The teams traded baskets during the first quarter, including some strong shooting from long range, from both teams, as the visiting Sea-Hawks built an early 12-10 lead.
A personal 7-0 run by Memorial's Alyssa Jenkins (St. John's, NL) pushed the Sea-Hawks' lead to 21-11.
The REDS would claw back some of that, but trailed 22-16 at the end of the first.
In the second quarter, Memorial established an inside presence at both ends of the floor which stymied the REDS for much of the frame.
Mid-way through the quarter, with his team trailing by 10, at 32-22, REDS head coach Jeff Speedy called a time-out.
But the Sea-Hawks continued to hold the REDS in check, not allowing the hosts to score over the final 5:32 of the second quarter and taking a 40-22 lead to the half-time break.
In the second half, the REDS were able to cut into the Memorial lead, but only in small ways.
UNB cut the lead to 12, at 52-40, before a Rebecka Ekstrom (Taby, SWE) three-point shot pushed it back to 15.
The 'Hawks led 60-43 through three quarters.
Marley Curwin (Halifax, NS) opened the final quarter with a five-point run, pulling the REDS to within 12.
But there was no stopping the Sea-Hawks, who maintained a wide margin despite increased pressure from the REDS, and won by 17.
"It's definitely upsetting, but motivating at the same time because we know what we have to do to be successful," said Curwin. "What we did today didn't work, but what we did last night did, so we have to work with that and try and be consistent."
With the win, the Sea-Hawks improve to 5-and-3 and break a four-team tie for third in the AUS standings.
"We really locked in on defence," said Short. "We took more pride in our defence and making it harder for UNB to run their sets and get good looks at the net."
The REDS are now 3-and-5, currently tied for fourth place with Acadia and Cape Breton.
Curwin says the team has to find a way to win back-to-back games.
"It starts in Monday's practice, that week, with everyone being fully engaged and wanting to work hard," she said. "So that we can take that consistency from the week of practice into the weekend of play, and just not settle for winning the first night, we need to want to get both."
Up next for the REDS, a trip to Sydney next weekend and a Saturday afternoon contest against the Cape Breton Capers. The game, scheduled for a 1:00pm start, will be the last of the first semester for the REDS.
The Sea-Hawks have finished their first semester schedule and won't see action again until they visit Cape Breton on January 8th.
RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics
PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics