McMillan leads Huskies to 76-57 win over Capers for weekend sweep

HALIFAX, NS – Saint Mary's guard Alaina McMillan tied a season-high with 27 points, helping the U SPORTS #8 ranked Huskies defeat the Cape Breton Capers 76-57 on Saturday night at the Homburg Centre.

Player-of-the-Game Alaina McMillan (Brantford, ON) led all scorers with 27 points, and hit five triples in a decisive Huskies first half. Despite improved shooting from Friday's affair, the Capers were outscored 36-9 from behind the arc, outweighing their advantage in the post.

The Capers kickstarted the contest with early shooting from guards Hannah Smith (Bedford, NS) and Chermensa Van La Parra (Rotterdam, Netherlands). Down 7-3 and on defense, the Huskies gave up multiple offensive rebounds, but the Capers couldn't convert, whereas the next possession, the Huskies offered fewer opportunities, forcing a shot clock violation. McMillan swung the momentum with her second triple, followed by assisting a lay-up from forward Lucina Beaumont (Fredericton, NB).

When Huskies forward Chloe Wilson fired a crosscourt assist to Gascoigne for a late shot clock corner three, the Capers called timeout, trailing 15-11.  Forward Hailey MacLeod (Marion Bridge, NS) kept the Capers close, with heads up switches, deflections, and rebounding, although a post-up floater from Huskies guard Aki Kobiyashi (Hyogo, Japan) gave her team a 17-15 lead after the first quarter.

Huskies guard Courtney Donaldson (Kelowna, BC) opened the second with a corner three.  Capers guard Amanda Cruickshank (Montreal, QC) showed her speed in the pick-and-roll, outmaneuvering the hedge from Huskies forward Marlo Steenbakkers (Ottawa, ON) before finishing the floater. Soon, Smith's first triple of the contest was answered by McMillan's third, and the Huskies led 23-19. However, Capers All-Star forward Kiyara Letlow (Toronto, ON)

refused to be denied post position, and the team fouls for the Huskies piled up. With Steenbakkers on the bench, back-to-back catches for Letlow under the basket were easy buckets. These were out-matched by a pair of threes from McMillan, who had 19 first half points on 5-9 3PT shooting. Capers forward Darah Fleurgin's (Montreal, QC) ball-hawking defense produced multiple Capers fast breaks, but deflections and miscues kept them scoreless for the final minutes of the half. Donaldson closed the last possession in isolation with a silky stepback two, giving the Huskies a 37-25 lead going into halftime.

MacLeod started the second half with dribble penetration, buckets, and opportunities for Letlow at the line.  With Huskies offensive flow halted by Capers closeouts, Steenbakkers caught the defense with a pull-up three. Steenbakkers then shipped a dime to McMillan under the basket for a 48-33 lead and a Capers timeout, leading 48-33. The Huskies needed to send double and triple teams to Letlow in the post, although the Capers continued to generate layups. Donaldson took a break from her bag with a corner three that was multiplied by Beaumont and an and-one from McMillan, giving the Huskies their largest lead of the game, 57-40. Kobayashi restored this margin at the quarter's end, 61-44, by delivering a bullet pass from behind the arc to forward Katelyn Power (Bayside, NS).

Donaldson and Power's connection in transition opened the fourth before Van La Parra and Donaldson traded triples. Fleurgin began to capitalize on her opportunities at the rim, but the contest was sealed when McMillan spun away from tight Cruikshank defense for a three point play and 76-53 lead. The final score was 76-57.

Huskies player-of-the-Game Alaina McMillan's 27 points (10-18 FG, 5-11 3PT) were supported by three quarters of excellence from Courtney Donaldson, who had 18 points (5-13 FG, 4-8 3PT), five rebounds, and two blocks. Katelyn Power grabbed nine rebounds and four steals, to go with six points off the Huskies bench.

The Capers were led by Kiyara Letlow's 18 points (6-9 FG, 6-8 FT) and nine rebounds. Darah Fleurgin and Haley Macelod combined for 13 points and 13 rebounds in aggressive performances.

The Huskies win improves their record to 10-3 on the campaign. They'll hit the road to Antigonish, NS this Wednesday, Jan. 24, as they visit the St. FX X-Women at 6 p.m.

The Capers loss drops their record to 5-9 on the campaign. They'll host the X-Women in Sydney next Friday, Jan. 26 at 6 p.m.

Recap by Dr. Casper Macaulay / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics