(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB REDS welcomed their home crowd back to the Currie Center, after the pandemic-forced layoff, with a scrappy, well-rounded effort in an 80-67 win over the STFX X-Women on Friday evening.
Marley Curwin (Halifax, NS) led the charge for UNB with 15 points and five assists, and was named Subway Player of the Game.
The win was a full-team effort with Kylee Speedy (Fredericton, NB) adding 13 points and Katie Butts (Ottawa, ON) and Jolianne Guay (Prevost, QC) grabbing 12 rebounds apiece.
"I know that's [being a leader] one of my roles, but we have a good group of leaders," said Curwin. "It's not just one girl, we have a solid group and we bounce off each other, pick each other up and it works really well."
Kimberly Kingsbury (Nepean, ON) had a game-high 17 points and six rebounds in a losing effort for the X-Women, while Tahmala Thorpe (Mississauga, ON) added 13 points.
The REDS home and season opener was played to 421 masked and fully vaccinated fans.
STFX had the better looks offensively and the better start to lead 19-14 after the first quarter.
The REDS would respond well, opening the second quarter with a 15-4 run to make it 29-23.
The X-Women would push back with a 9-2 run of their own in the final minutes of the half, but UNB would keep a 38-34 advantage at halftime.
UNB kept adding momentum to start the third quarter with an impressive 14-6 run fuelled by some brilliant passing.
X refused to let the game get away, landing some huge three-pointers to reel the REDS back to 53-53 heading into the fourth quarter.
UNB would re-take the lead in the opening minute of the fourth and wouldn't look back as they kept STFX at bay with poised play at both ends of the court to get the win 80-67.
"We're a strong defensive team, so when everybody is in it and locked in, that's when we have success," said Curwin.
The REDS open the season at 1-0 while the X-Women start at 0-1.
These two teams meet again Saturday, in Fredericton. Game time is 6:00pm.
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Courtesy Jonathon James, UNB Athletics