Huskies Hold Off REDS

(FREDERICTON, NB) The Saint Mary's Huskies remain undefeated, but only just barely.

The UNB REDS gave Atlantic University Sport's top women's basketball team all they could handle Friday night, falling 59-57 to the undefeated Huskies.

Saint Mary's outscored the REDS 13-9 over the first ten minutes before opening the second quarter on a 13-2 run to go up 26-11.

After a UNB timeout, the REDS surged to life, putting together a 12-0 run to close the gap to 26-23.

The remainder of the half was close, and the Huskies took a 34-31 lead to the half-time break.

Late in the third quarter, McKinley Bezanson (Hantsport, NS) dropped a three-point shot to pull the REDS within two, at 47-45.

The final quarter saw the REDS pull ahead, briefly, late, but the visitors found a way to keep the eager REDS from pulling off the upset.

UNB's Katie Butts (Ottawa, ON) led all scorers with 16 points and 12 rebounds.

Maheva Ngassam (Saint Hubert, QC) pulled down a dozen rebounds as well and added seven points, while Bezanson finished the night with eight.

Lucy Beaumont (Fredericton, NB) led the Huskies with 15 points and 11 rebounds. She was named Tim Horton's Player of the Game.

Aki Kobayashi (Osaka, JPN) contributed 13 points and Clara Gascoigne scored 11.

Saint Mary's is now 12-0 and remains atop the AUS standings.

UNB falls to 5-7.

The Huskies see their next action next Friday, when they travel to St. John's to take on the Memorial Sea-Hawks.

The REDS will be in Halifax to face the Dalhousie Tigers. Game time is 6:00pm.

RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics

PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics