Axewomen sweep Tigers in opening week of regular season

WOLFVILLE, N.S. — Acadia improved to 2–0 with a 74–54 win over Dalhousie on Saturday at Stu Aberdeen Court, pulling away behind a dominant middle stretch and balanced scoring. The Axewomen outscored the Tigers 40–21 in the second and third quarters and held the visitors to 22.4 per cent shooting.

Samantha Russell led Acadia with 22 points and six rebounds, adding three assists. Bianca Helmig finished with 16 points, five assists and three steals. Taya Dixon added seven points, five assists and three steals, while Paris Matheos chipped in eight points off the bench. Acadia held a 36–30 edge on the glass and a 21–15 advantage in assists.

The game was tied 16–16 after the first quarter before Acadia found separation. Russell's perimeter scoring and Helmig's drives sparked an 18–11 second quarter, and the Axewomen followed with a 22–10 third to build a 56–37 lead after 30 minutes. The hosts shot 37.0 per cent from the field and 75.0 per cent at the line, converting 15 of 20 free throws.

Defensively, Acadia forced 15 turnovers and turned them into 13 points. The Axewomen limited Dalhousie to four second-chance points and controlled the paint 34–18. Madelyn White paced Dalhousie with 20 points, while Victoria Fournier had 14.

Depth carried key stretches. Maria Davignon supplied seven points in 10 minutes, and Emily Nunes-Sabean added five points, five rebounds and a block. Sarah Delorey grabbed six rebounds, and Jewel Woolfitt and Sophie Fowler helped close possessions on the defensive glass. Acadia led by as many as 23 in the fourth quarter and won bench points 20–19.

Next up, Acadia hosts Memorial on Friday, Oct. 31, at 1 p.m. for a rare afternoon tipoff at Stu Aberdeen Court.