(ANTIGONISH, N.S.) - The CIS No. 2-ranked Saint Mary's Huskies kept their unbeaten streak alive (15-0) with a 78-59 victory over the StFX X-Women (6-8) Friday evening in AUS basketball action at the Oland Centre.
Justine Colley, the reigning CIS player of the year and the CIS all-time career leader in points scored, led the maroon and white with 35 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three steals in 39 minutes of court time to earn Subway player of the game honors.
Colley's 35-point outing is her first 30-plus point game of the season and is the highest single-game total in the conference this year. Colley has led the Atlantic conference and the nation in scoring for the last three seasons and once again leads the conference with a 21.0 per game average.
The Huskies outscored the X-Women 24-to-nine in the fourth quarter en route to the victory.
Laura Langille and Rachelle Coward also scored in double figures for the Huskies with 15 and 14 points, respectively. Langille corralled a game-high 10 rebounds, while Angelina Carvery dished out four assists.
Lia St. Pierre contributed 14 points, eight rebounds, five assists and two steals. Vanessa Pickard collected 13 points, four rebounds, five assists and three steals for the blue and white.
The Huskies out-rebounded the X-Women 42-28.
The game was close throughout the opening three quarters of play. The teams were tied at 15-15 after ten minutes and the Huskies led 39-37 at halftime.
Saint Mary's led 54-50 after three quarters before the X-Women offense went cold for the fourth quarter. The Huskies held them to nine points, four of which came from the free throw line.
StFX post Kolbi Roper led the X-Women with 18 points, while adding four rebounds.
StFX shot 25 per cent (nine-for-36) in the second half.
The X-Women return to action Wednesday, Feb. 5, when they visit Sydney to face the rival Cape Breton Capers. StFX will then host the UNB Varsity Reds Saturday, Feb. 8 at Oland Centre, beginning at 6 p.m.
The Huskies travel to Wolfville, NS on Feb. 5th to face the Acadia Axewomen in a four-point game. With 2,276 career points and counting, Colley will look to become the first player in CIS history to score 2,300 points.
Source: StFX Sports Information
Photo courtesy of Gordon La