Huskies defeat Sea-Hawks 78-67, improve to 14-0

ST. JOHN'S, NL – Saint Mary's guards Clara Gascoigne and Aki Kobayashi each scored 17 points, leading the Huskies to a 78-67 win over the Memorial Sea-Hawks in Atlantic University Sport women's basketball action on Saturday night at the Memorial Fieldhouse in St. John's, NL.

For the second straight game, guard Clara Gascoigne was aggressive offensively, scoring the first seven points of the game for the Huskies. The Sea-Hawks were able to keep it close for the first three minutes, with a pair of free-throws from guard Alyssa Jenkins (St. John's, NL) cutting the Huskies lead to 10-9.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Clara Gascoigne comes out firing, hitting for the first five points of the game in a rematch against the Sea-Hawks! pic.twitter.com/yrZ3MpSTMi

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) January 25, 2025

But the Huskies went on a 20-0 run, highlighting their depth with reserves Evie Hargraves (Saint John, NB), Julia Black (Halifax, NS), Katelyn Power (Bayside, NS) and Marlo Steenbakkers (Ottawa, ON) combining to score 13 first quarter points. Sea-Hawks guard Eavan McLaughlin (Fredericton, NB) hit a jump shot before the end of the quarter, as the Huskies took a 29-11 lead after 10 minutes of play.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Julia Black hits a tough step-back three! Huskies lead 29-11 after the first quarter! pic.twitter.com/6S72SEhl7h

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) January 25, 2025

The second quarter started with Huskies guard Aki Kobayashi (Osaka, Japan) and Sea-Hawks guard Eavan McLaughlin trading three-point field goals. Huskies guard Molly Healy (St. John's, NL) had a nice step-through lay-in, before McLaughlin's hot shooting continued, as she hit a trio of second quarter threes, cutting the lead to 38-26.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

First year guard Molly Healy shows off some sweet footwork for the bucket! pic.twitter.com/bXE94baj6S

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) January 25, 2025

But once again, the Huskies went on a big run, doing most of their damage on the inside as forwards Chloe Wilson (Dartmouth, NS) and Lucina Beaumont (Fredericton, NB) scored several lay-ups. Sea-Hawks guard Brooke LeDevehat (Mount Pearl, NL) hit a three-pointer just before the buzzer, and the Huskies took a 51-34 lead into halftime.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Huskies establishing their dominance in the paint! Back-to-back put back lay-ins from Chloe Wilson and Lucy Beaumont have the Huskies up 51-34 at the half! pic.twitter.com/Omb5iQroiW

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) January 25, 2025

The Sea-Hawks had a strong start to the third quarter, with an Alyssa Jenkins lay-in cutting the Huskies lead to 55-45, but Clara Gascoigne responded with a three to push the Huskies lead back to 13 points.  But the Sea-Hawks halftime defensive adjustments proved effective, holding the Huskies to just 11 points in the quarter, and cutting the lead to 62-53 heading into the final quarter.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Clara Gascoigne dials long distance! Huskies lead 62-53 after three quarters. pic.twitter.com/fuVA1dgKTA

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) January 25, 2025

The Sea-Hawks continued to comeback in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter with a LeDevehat lay-in and McLaughlin three cutting the lead to 64-58. But the Huskies responded with back-to-back buckets from Gascoigne and guard Aliyah Fraser (New Glasgow, NS), before an and-one lay-in from Lucina Beaumont pushed their lead back up to 71-60.  

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Lucy Beaumont with the tough and-one! Huskies win it 78-67 and improve to 14-0 in @AUS_SUA play! pic.twitter.com/MUjKuBOFTt

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) January 25, 2025

Memorial once again was able to cut into the lead, with a pair of free-throws from Alyssa Jenkins cutting it to 75-67, but Aki Kobayashi and Lucy Beaumont made three late free-throws to secure the 78-67 Huskies victory.

Guards Clara Gascoigne and Aki Kobayashi each scored 17 points to lead the Huskies, with Kobayashi adding six rebounds. Forwards Chloe Wilson (11 points & nine rebounds) and Lucina Beaumont (10 points & 10 rebounds) patrolled the interior. It was a true team effort for the Huskies, with all 11 players who appeared in the game scoring, including 19 points off the bench.

The Sea-Hawks were led by Eavan McLaughlin who poured in 27 points including five three-pointers, and added eight rebounds. Alyssa Jenkins added a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double, and Brooklyn Martens chipped in a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double of her own.   

The Huskies win improves their record to 14-0 on the season. Saint Mary's will be back on home-court next Saturday, Feb. 1, as they host the Cape Breton Capers (8-6) at 6 p.m. at the Homburg Centre. GET TICKETS

The Sea-Hawks fall to 1-13 with the loss. Memorial will hit the road next weekend, visiting the UNB REDS (7-7) for a pair of games on Friday, Jan. 31 at 6 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 1 at 2 p.m. in Fredericton, NB.

Recap by Allan April / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics