WOLFVILLE, N.S. - Paloma Anderson's (Phoenix, Arizona) Acadia record breaking 41 points in a single game helped the Axewomen blanket the visiting StFX X-Women 97-59 in a rare midweek AUS Basketball game.
The win improves the Axewomen to 12-0 and has the team extending the longest winning streak on record for the Axewomen program.
The Axewomen pulled out to a quick 26-10 first quarter lead off of 10 points from Anderson and six from Katie Ross (Halifax, N.S.) and Allie Berry (Yarmouth, N.S.).
With no lead changes throughout the entire game, Acadia stretched the gap to 46-29 after one half of play. Anderson led both teams with 17 points after 20 minutes of play. StFX played a much better second quarter losing 20-19 to the Axewomen. Lindsay Lessard (Waterloo, Ont.) led the X-Women with 10 halftime points.
Acadia opened the third frame with strong play again, pushing the lead to 75-41 on the back of Anderson's 12 third quarter points.
Once again the X-Women controlled the bleeding after a lopsided previous quarter. Lessard added 12 points in the final quarter for a team high 26 points. Kolbi Roper (North Vancouver, B.C.) and Marcy Robinson (Bastrop, Lousianna) each chipped in nine points.
The Axewomen were a respectable 53.7% from the floor while the X-Women struggled with a 33.3% field goal percentage.
Out-rebounding StFX 50 to 34, Axewoman Allie Berry pulled down eight defensive boards and one offensive, while teammate Paloma Anderson added 13 including nine defensive boards. Berry and Anderson accounted for most of the 36 points in the paint compared to StFX's 12.
Of the starting five, only two players didn't reach double digits for the Axewomen. Anderson's 41 overshadowed Katie Ross' impressive 18 points and Allie Berry's 10. Chanel Smith and Emily MacLeod had nine and eight respectively.
"I think we played very well, I was most impressed with our ability to read and react offensively to some of what X was doing", noted head coach Len Harvey.
Harvey was happy to see a great result from their effort. "The girls spend a lot of time in the gym so the percentages aren't surprising in a way and I was just glad they saw the gratification for their hard work."
While there is no doubt that Anderson's ability to score has helped the Axewomen's turn-around from last season, the game is still a team game.
"Paloma is an exceptional talent, but I think it's missed how much work she is doing when the lights aren't on. Her commitment to improving her game, understanding how her individual offense fits into our team system, and watching tape is really turning her into a special talent in the country", comments Harvey.
"It's easy to see Paloma's effect on the game undoubtedly, but we are getting some fantastic production from players like Allie, Katie, Emily and Chanel just to name a few', points out Harvey."Our team effort each night is what excites me the most about this group, and in my opinion is what makes us a difficult team to play against. Everyone is making contributions to our success."
Anderson's 41 points shattered the past Acadia record of most points scored in a single game held by Alise Brown (40 points) established in 2010 against UNB. How did Anderson feel about setting a new Acadia record for the most points scored in a game?
"My teammates were finding me in good spots to score. It is still shocking to know I just set an Acadia record. But my teammate's excitement for me made the feeling so amazing and humbling", commented Anderson.
Did she feel like she played a good game? "I feel like I took good shots, inside and outside", said Anderson. "But the best part about the unstoppable feeling was I didn't have to do it alone. My teammates know my game and they just were just hitting me at perfect times"
Still unranked in the CIS Top Ten, despite being one of two undefeated teams in the country, the first place Axewomen will head to StFX this Friday for the fourth and last game against the X-Women this season.