Reds down Capers to advance to AUS semifinal versus UPEI

(HALIFAX, N.S.) The UNB Reds have advanced to Saturday's semifinals after downing the Cape Breton Capers 63-59 in the first women's quarterfinal matchup of the Subway AUS Basketball Championships Friday afternoon at Scotiabank Centre.

The Reds entered the championships as the No. 4 seed, while the Capers were seeded fifth.

UNB's Mikaela Dodig, an AUS second team all-star and Sylvia Sweeney Award nominee, led the way for the Reds with 19 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals, while fifth-year forward Eva Tumwine collected Subway Player of the Game honours with her 17 points, five rebounds, two steals and one block.

The Capers were led by AUS first team all-star MacKenzee Ryan's 20 points (including three made three-pointers) five rebounds and four assists. 

Team defence was the story of the first quarter with both teams combining for just 37% shooting from the floor and 14 combined turnovers.

At the end of the first quarter the Capers' Ryan led all scorers with eight points, but she was also forced into five turnovers in the frame, which UNB took advantage of for five points-off-turnovers.

The second quarter began much the same, but the Reds were able to establish a seven-point lead toward the end of the first half, heading into the break with a 28-21 lead, thanks to some late baskets by Dodig and Tumwine, and finishing the quarter on an 11-2 run.

Tumwine finished the first half with a team-high 10 points and four rebounds for UNB while Ryan led all scorers with 13 points on four-of-11 shooting from the field, including two-of-six from deep.

UNB was able to up their lead to double digits midway through the third quarter as they held the Capers scoreless for almost four minutes from the 5:45 mark to the 1:57 mark.

Capers' AUS second team all-star Monique Calliste and fifth-year forward Audrey Rankin were key in helping the Capers weather UNB's storm, keeping the Reds' lead at seven points (48-41) heading into the fourth. Rankin scored seven points in the frame to go along with five rebounds.

Cape Breton came out strong to start the fourth, jumping into a full-court press, looking to force some turnovers, and cutting the lead to four points with five minutes to play and then tying the game two minutes later on a Maia Watling free throw.

The Reds were able to take the lead back on a mid-range jumper by Krystal Osborn with 1:05 left to play, and wouldn't give up the lead beyond that point, holding on to book their place in Saturday's semifinals.

UNB will face the top-seeded UPEI Panthers in the first women's semifinal Saturday at 1 p.m. at Scotiabank Centre.