Axewomen experience worst loss of season by Huskies

WOLFVILLE, N.S. – The CIS No. 3 ranked Saint Mary's Huskies proved why they are top in the AUS standings by handing the second place Acadia Axewomen a 94-62 loss. The Axewomen fall to 16-3 with their worst loss of the regular season, while the Huskies improve to 18-1.

Up on the Huskies early in the first quarter by as much as 15-6, Acadia continued to work inside on the Huskies with Allie Berry (Yarmouth, N.S.) netting nine points. Topping the Huskies 28-20 after one quarter of play, the Axewomen's fortunes changed quickly.

Down 32-25, the Huskies worked back to a 36-35 lead with just over a minute remaining in the half on a 10-4 run that was stalled by a Chanel Smith (Halifax, N.S.) three point basket. After Smith's basket, Saint Mary's applied a second run of 9-0 to cap the second quarter 19-7 win and 39-35 halftime lead.

Tough Huskie defense that forced seven third quarter turnovers along with Angela Carvery's (Halifax, N.S.) 10 third quarter points pushed the Saint Mary's lead to 68-48 after the third frame.

With nothing working for the Axewomen offensively, the lead grew to a game high 32 points with 24 seconds remaining in regulation time.

Out-rebounding the Axewomen 50-37, plus 20 points off of turnovers and 45 points from baskets from the distant arc, the Huskies handed Acadia their worst defeat of the season in the closing home game of the 2015-16 schedule.

Fourth year guard Angelina Carvery posted a game high 26 points that included six three point baskets. Teammates Rachelle Coward (Dartmouth, N.S.) and Emma Valikoski (Espoo, Finland) added 17 and 13 points respectively. Kennisha-Shanice Luberisse (Montreal, Que.) controlled the boards a game high 11 rebounds and 11 points. Five Huskies scored in double digits.

Allie Berry and Chanel Smith scored team high 11 points each, while Katie Ross (Bedford, N.S.) added 10 points. Axewomen leading scorer Paloma Anderson (Phoenix, Arizona) had an off-game with only seven points and uncharacteristically turned the ball over six times.

The Axewomen and Huskies both clinched the quarterfinal bye two weeks ago and will await Friday's quarterfinal winners for Saturday afternoon's semi-final games. Acadia will wrap up the regular season on the road at UNB on Saturday, while the Huskies head to Cape Breton for their final game against the tough third place Capers on Saturday evening.