Axewomen top Huskies 77-71 to advance to AUS finals

(HALIFAX, N.S.) – The Acadia Axewomen and the Saint Mary's Huskies opened up the Subway AUS Basketball Championships Saturday afternoon at Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, N.S., facing off in the first of two women's semi-final matchups.

Acadia earned a 77-71 win to advance to Sunday's finals.

AUS first team all-star Paloma Anderson (Phoenix, Arizona) led the Axewomen with 29 points, adding 12 rebounds, four assists, and two steals.

With back-and-forth play throughout the first frame, the Axewomen began to pull away at the eight-minute mark, to finish the first quarter with a 16-13 edge. Anderson led Acadia in points in the frame with 10.

The Huskies played catchup throughout the second quarter, coming within one point of the Axewomen, but were unable to take the lead. Acadia sat with the 37-31 advantage at the halfway mark.

A huge three pointer from Acadia's Chanel Smith allowed the Axewomen to extend their lead and pull away by 10, to hold a 49-39 lead with under four minutes remaining in the third quarter. Anderson led the Axewomen in scoring throughout the third, to finish the quarter with a 57-49 edge.

Acadia continued to pull away throughout the final frame, to come out on top earning a 77-71 victory.

AUS second team all-star Chanel Smith (Halifax, N.S.) went 10-13 at the free-throw line in Acadia's win.

The Subway Player of the Game honour was awarded to Acadia's Anderson, while Courtney Cain-Nordin (Halifax, N.S.) earned the award for the Huskies. Cain-Nordin posted 14 points, seven rebounds and two assists.

AUS second team all-star Kennisha-Shanice Luberisse (Montreal, Que.) was named the Wilson's Security Defensive Player of the Game for Saint Mary's, while Smith earned the honour for Acadia. Luberisse recorded eight points, 10 rebounds, two assists and one steal for the Huskies, while Smith recorded 19 points, nine rebounds, two assists and one steal.

The Axewomen now advance to the Subway AUS Women's Basketball Championships finals where they will face the Cape Breton Capers Sunday at 1 p.m.