Axewomen hold off Dalhousie, secure 62-57 victory
Helmig scores 18, Russell posts double-double as Acadia stays in control from start to finish.
Acadia improved to 14-5 with a 62-57 win over Dalhousie on Wednesday.
The Axewomen led throughout and built a game-high 11-point advantage in the fourth quarter. They turned 16 Dalhousie turnovers into 15 points and shot 79.2 per cent from the free-throw line to help secure the result.
Bianca Helmig led Acadia with 18 points and five rebounds, shooting 6-for-19 from the field. Samantha Russell recorded a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds, adding a block. Taya Dixon scored 13 points and went 7-for-8 at the free-throw line. Emily Nunes-Sabean added 10 points and two blocks.
Simona Matic paced Dalhousie with 14 points and seven rebounds. Victoria Fournier added 11 points and seven rebounds, while Cairo Henning chipped in eight points and six rebounds.
Acadia set the tone early. The Axewomen scored eight points in the paint in the opening quarter and limited Dalhousie to two inside baskets. They also converted eight of 10 free throws and committed just one turnover. Acadia led 19-14 after one.
The lead grew in the second quarter. Acadia outscored Dalhousie 16-13, mixing inside scoring with timely three-point shooting. The Axewomen forced a turnover that led to a transition basket and edged the Tigers 11-10 on the boards. Acadia held a 35-27 advantage at halftime.
Dalhousie trimmed the deficit in the third quarter, outscoring Acadia 14-13. Helmig knocked down a key three-pointer to keep the lead at nine with under three minutes remaining. Acadia matched Dalhousie in the paint and went a perfect 4-for-4 from the free-throw line in the frame. The Axewomen led 48-41 heading to the fourth.
The Tigers continued to press, outscoring Acadia 16-14 in the final quarter. A three-pointer at 5:58 extended Acadia's lead to 11, which proved decisive. The Axewomen struggled from the field late, shooting 4-for-19 in the quarter, but converted five of six free throws to maintain control.
Dalhousie cut into the margin in the closing minutes, but Acadia held on to seal the 62-57 victory.
The Axewomen close out the regular season Saturday on the road against Cape Breton in Sydney.