Huskies hold off REDS to reach semifinal

(HALIFAX, N.S.) - The Saint Mary’s Huskies are off to the semifinals after defeating the UNB REDS 77-56 in the 2022 Subway AUS women’s basketball championship quarter-final.

SMU made the first basket, with Marlo Steenbakkers (Ottawa, Ont) sinking a three-point jump shot. The Huskies maintained the lead throughout the first quarter, ahead by a score of 19-12 with six steals, including three from Lucy Beaumont (Fredericton, N.B.). 

A three-pointer from Jolianne Guay (Prévost, Que.) got a reaction from the UNB bench and the REDS fans sitting behind the net as she helped cut into SMU’s lead in the first half. But SMU was able to slow down the momentum as they carried a comfortable 40-24 lead into the half.

The Huskies found success from the field in the first half, making 17 of 39 (43.6%) field goals. SMU’s second team all-star Clara Gascoigne (Dartmouth, N.S.) had four rebounds and nine points in the half. 

Gascoigne, the Subway player of the game, finished with 23 points and 7 rebounds, and was four-for-five in three-point attempts. She also made three-of-four shots from the free throw line.

Guay led the REDS with two rebounds and seven points, including two three-pointers in the first half, and started the second half with another basket from beyond the arc.

A jump shot, layup and three-pointer from Katie McAffee (Lower Knoxford, N.B.) in the second half was part of a nine-point run that put pressure on SMU. The second-year point guard finished the night with 16 points and six rebounds and was UNB’s player of the game.

SMU’s Alaina McMillan (Brantford, Ont.) gave the Huskies more breathing room with two consecutive treys in the fourth quarter. The AUS first team all-star had 14 points on the night.

The Huskies were dominant in the paint, with 34 points from that area of the court. On the other side of the ball, SMU had seven blocks compared to one for the REDS.

REDS Katie Butts (Ottawa, Ont.), named to the all-rookie team, had seven rebounds in her first AUS Championship game.

Next, SMU will play Acadia on Saturday, March 19 at 6:30 p.m. The Axewomen clinched a spot in the semis with a 81-73 win over STFX on Thursday.

Watch the semifinals and every other game of the 2022 AUS Subway Basketball Championships on AUStv.ca.

Recap by Jonathan Briggins