Collins ties AUS record in loss to Huskies

HALIFAX, N.S. — The Saint Mary's Huskies extended their unbeaten streak to 9-0 with a dominant 86-55 victory over the Dalhousie Tigers in AUS women's basketball action on Saturday at Dalplex.

Saint Mary's took control early, outscoring Dalhousie 26-14 in the first quarter. Despite a solid shooting performance from the Tigers, particularly Melina Collins, who finished with 30 points on 9-of-13 shooting, Dalhousie struggled to contain the Huskies' balanced offense throughout the game.

Lucina Beaumont led the charge for Saint Mary's, scoring 20 points on 8-of-16 shooting, while Aliyah Fraser added 15 points and four assists. The Huskies were efficient, shooting 47% from the field, including 40.7% from beyond the arc. Their defense also stifled Dalhousie's offense, limiting the Tigers to just 28.6% shooting for the game.

The Huskies dominated the paint, scoring 26 points inside compared to zero for the Tigers. Saint Mary's also out-rebounded Dalhousie 41-32, with Aki Kobayashi contributing a double-double with 15 points and eight rebounds. The Huskies also capitalized on second-chance opportunities, outscoring Dalhousie 23-9 in that category.

Dalhousie struggled offensively after the first half, as the Huskies' defense clamped down. The Tigers shot just 25% in the second half and were held to just 10 points in the fourth quarter. Karina Sarai and Eva Widmeyer, who each had 10 rebounds, combined for just seven points, further limiting Dalhousie's options.

Collins was named the player of the game for tying the AUS record for 3-pt FG in a single game.

The Tigers return to the court on January 8 when they host the STFX X-Women. The Huskies host UPEI on January 10 to open the second half.