Axewomen sweep weekend at UNB, Veinot nets 30 points in second win

(FREDERICTON, NB) The Acadia Axewomen completed a weekend sweep of the UNB REDS with a 68-61 win, in Fredericton, on Saturday afternoon. 

Jayda Veinot (Port Williams, NS) led the Acadia effort, scoring 30 points and earning Subway Player of the Game honours. 

"Our main message was we needed to be more aggressive, all of us, and it just worked out that I was at the receiving end of the advantage," said Veinot. "Sometimes when you get going, you keep going too." 

The two teams engaged each other right away in a back-and-forth first quarter that saw both teams hold leads. 

With about two minutes to play, Acadia had fashioned a 16-9 lead. 

Veinot dropped a three-point shot from long range with less than 30 seconds remaining in the quarter, and Acadia led 21-14 after ten minutes. 

In the second, the REDS cut into the Axewomen's lead. 

With 4:42 to play in the quarter, Jolianne Guay (Prévost, QC) laid in a basket that made the score 29-26 and forced Acadia head coach Len Harvey to call a time-out. 

Both sides cooled following the time out, and the game went without another score for more than three minutes. 

Acadia was able to maintain their seven-point lead at the half, going to the locker room with a 33-26 edge. 

The Axewomen went on a 6-2 run to start the third, driving their lead to nine points at 39-28. 

A 6-0 UNB run brought the REDS back to within five and prompted another Acadia time-out. 

Acadia then quickly ran their lead to 16 and clamped down on defence. 

Guay stalled the Acadia push with a three-point shot, but the REDS could get no closer and the visitors led 56-43 through 30 minutes. 

In the final quarter, the Axewomen tried to limit the REDS offence. 

Despite a late push, UNB fell short 68-61. 

"I think they were shooting pretty well, they were finishing pretty well, getting the ball to their posts, while we struggled with rotation," said Guay. 

Despite the loss, Guay said there were building blocks the REDS can take from the game. 

"I think we played a way better game today. I think we played more physical. We were shooting better. We were confident and finding our posts inside better. We did a better job today." 

With the loss, the REDS are now 2-and-4, while Acadia improves to 4-2. 

"We had a pretty in-depth scout because they have a lot of sets and structures and we did a really good job of committing to it and executing the scout, so that helped us a lot," said Veinot. 

Up next for the Axewomen, a home game against UPEI on Friday. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 pm. 

The REDS play host to the Memorial Sea-Hawks on Saturday. That game is scheduled for a 6:00 pm start. 

RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics 

PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics