(FREDERICTON, NB) What a difference a day makes. Or, in this case, half a day.
15 hours after dropping a 75-65 decision to the Memorial Sea-Hawks, the UNB Varsity Reds scored an 85-55 win over the visiting Sea-Hawks.
Hannah Currie, named Subway Player of the Game, scored 17 points and had eight rebounds for UNB.
Nicole Esson(Fredericton, NB) scored a game-high 24 for UNB, and Laura Kaye(Fredericton, NB) added 17.
"As a team, I think we're doing some really great things and we're building every single week. Even this week, going into Christmas, we gave it our all and we had a really effort, so we can expect good things in the new year," said Currie.
Sydney Stewart(London, ON) led the Sea-Hawks with 10 points, while Cameron Longley(Hubbards, NS) came off the bench to score eight and grab three rebounds.
"We weren't really working in the first half on rebounding, and that's what killed us the most," said Longley.
Longley doesn't feel the short-turn around between games was a factor.
"It's more about mental toughness, for both sides. We came out with the right mind-set, ready to win, but those shots weren't falling for us today."
The Varsity Reds finish the first semester schedule with a 5-3 record.
"I think they got their backs up against the wall and responded the way every coach would hope that they would," said Varsity Reds head coach Jeff Speedy. "In a perfect world it doesn't get to that point, you're that way all the time."
"They definitely played harder today," said Speedy. "They're will, defensively, was double, triple what it was yesterday."
Both teams are now off until January.
The Sea-Hawks open the second half at home, hosting Cape Breton.
The V-Reds host first place Acadia on Saturday, January 6th. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00pm.
UNB will travel to Lennoxville, Quebec, to participate in the Bishop's Gaiters Tournament, after Christmas.
RECAP AND PHOTOS BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics