WOLFVILLE, N.S. – A big fourth quarter of 35 points gave the U SPORTS No. 1 ranked Axewomen a 91-76 win over the visiting UNB Varsity Reds.
Subway Player of the Game Chanel Smith posted 14 of her 20-point game in the final frame as the Axewomen improve to 11-0 and remain undefeated in regular season play.
With the lead changing 11 times during a tight three-quarters of the play, both teams were close in most, if not all, statistical categories except Acadia dominated in the paint with 32 points, compared to UNB's 16.
The largest lead for the Varsity Reds came 40 seconds into the game when they pushed out to a four-point lead. The only dominant lead for the Axewomen appeared in the fourth quarter where Acadia out-scored UNB 35-17.
The Varsity Reds opened the final quarter with a 59-56 lead, but Smith's three-pointer at 4:35 gave the Axewomen a 72-67 advantage they would not surrender. Smith's basket from the distant arc was followed by Haley McDonald's fourth and final three-pointer.
Smith responded minutes later with another three-point basket that opened up a 13-0 run to the buzzer.
The top team in the country looked flat in the first half and Smith pointed out that words were said prior to the start of the final quarter.
"For us, I think it was an energy thing. We really had to hold together. We weren't really feeding off each other for the first half, but we came together in the fourth and told each other we need to pick it up and I think that's what sparked it and we believed in each other," said Smith
The Axewomen defended with man and zone throughout the contest and the zone defense dominated the closing quarter.
"I think that is what helped us with our energy and it helped us get more boards. That's what we really needed. So that really set the tone and gave us a little spark," commented Smith regarding the Axewomen's shift to a predominant zone defense against the Varsity Reds.
Smith was joined by Haley McDonald and Paloma in posting double-digit scoring. McDonald posted a game-high 22 points, while Anderson added 19. Katie Ross dominated the boards with 11 rebounds.
The Varsity Reds were led by second-year guard Mikaela Dodig who netted 20 points that included four three-point baskets. Laura Kaye and former Axewoman Emily MacLeod contributed 17 and 14 points respectively.
The Axewomen hope to remain undefeated after 12 games as they host the feisty UPEI Panthers tomorrow evening starting at 6:00 pm, while UNB will conclude their Nova Scotia road trip in Halifax against Dalhousie.