REDS Sink Sea-Hawks

(FREDERICTON, NB) Jolianne Guay (Prevost, QC) dropped 16 points and had a game-high 11 rebounds to lead the UNB REDS to an 83-75 four-point win over the Memorial Sea-Hawks on Saturday.

Guay's efforts earned her Subway Player of the Game in what was a gutsy team effort for UNB.

Katie McAffee (Lower Knoxford, NB) also had a strong night for the REDS with 15 points and six rebounds.

Alana Short (Barrie, ON) led the Sea-Hawks with a game-high 20 points and six rebounds, while Rebecka Ekstrom (Taby, SWE) had 16 points and five rebounds.

The game was played to 545 fully vaccinated and masked fans at UNB's Currie Center.

The REDS started the game with organized play and accurate shooting from range, going 4-for-6 beyond the arc in the first quarter for an early 26-19 lead.

"We did a really good job on the girls we had to guard," said Guay. "I think we have some things we need to do better tomorrow, like boxing out and not fouling them. We have to get the jump on that tomorrow cause it's really important."

The Sea-Hawks would push back in the second quarter, forcing more turnovers and giving the REDS fewer clean looks. 

This play allowed Memorial to tie the score 37-37 at one point, though UNB would hit a few key shots in the final minute to take a 42-39 lead into halftime.

The Sea-Hawks would build on their momentum to start the second half, opening the third quarter on a 16-8 run to take a 55-51 lead.

The REDS would stay resilient and battle back to tie it 58-58 a few minutes later off a huge three-point shot from Kylee Speedy (Fredericton, NB), and would trail 61-58 in the fourth.

McAffee would hit an early three-pointer to tie it 61-61 to open the fourth.

The two teams would continue to battle for breathing room down to the final two and a half minutes.

"We've spent a lot of time talking about learning how to win and doing the little things right and I thought in the last three minutes of that game we did a lot of those little things right that allowed us to get some separation," said REDS head coach Jeff Speedy.

Tied 73-73, McAffee would hit a long jumpshot to give the REDS the lead 75-73.

UNB would stop Memorial's next possession, go the other way and give the ball to Bailey Black (Miramichi, NB) who hit for three to put the REDS up 80-75.

UNB wouldn't look back, locking down the 83-75 win.

The REDS improve to 3-4 while the Sea-Hawks fall to 4-3, and with the four-point win for UNB the two teams are now tied in the standings with eight points each.

The teams meet again Sunday afternoon. Game time is 1:00pm Atlantic.

RECAP BY: Jonathon James/for UNB Athletics

PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics