REDS open championship weekend with thrilling 77-76 overtime win over Memorial

(HALIFAX, N.S.) It took extra time to settle the opening game of the 2023 Subway AUS Women's Basketball Championship, with the UNB REDS (4th seed) defeating the Memorial Sea-Hawks (5th seed) 77-76 in overtime.

Subway player of the game Jayda Veinot (Port Williams, N.S.) led the way for the REDS in the quarterfinal, highlighted by a crucial three-pointer in overtime. The first team all-star finished the game with 27 points and 16 rebounds. 

Second team all-star Alana Short (Barrie, Ont.) opened the scoring of the tournament at the Scotiabank Centre to give the Sea-Hawks the first lead of a close game. After the REDS trailed for almost the entire opening 10 minutes, a steal and basket by second-year guard Kylee Speedy (Fredericton, N.B.) evened the score 18-18 after one quarter. UNB continued its momentum in the second quarter, taking its first lead after a layup by Venoit. 

A three pointer from forward Hannah Green (Flatrock, Nfld.) gave the Sea-Hawks a 28-24 lead in a tightly contested second quarter. Soon after, McKinley Bezanson (Hantsport, N.S.) responded for the REDS with a three-point jump shot to give her team the lead again. 

Second-year guard Rebecka Ekstrom (Taby, Sweden) of the Sea-hawks had a three-pointer and two free throws as part of a late 5-0 run as Memorial re-established a 39-34 lead. The Sea-Hawks returned to the Scotiabank Centre dressing room with a 41-35 lead at halftime. Fifth-year veteran Ines Salat Maragarit (Barcelona, Spain) played an important role on both sides of the ball for Memorial, with seven rebounds and seven points in the first half. 

The two teams traded leads throughout the third quarter, with Katie Butts (Ottawa, Ont.) dominating for UNB with an offensive rebound and layup to start the second half. The second-year player had nine points and five rebounds in the third quarter. The REDS trailed by one point going into the final quarter.

Both teams stood their ground late in the fourth quarter, with neither team conceding points for nearly 3.5 minutes until Salat Maragrit made a breakthrough with a basket for the Sea-Hawks to make it a one-possession game. With 6.8 seconds left, Alyssa Jenkins (St.John's, Nfld.) made a free throw for Memorial to make it 65-65 and send the game to overtime. 

The UNB REDS take on the defending AUS Champions, the Acadia Axewomen (1st seed) in a semifinal matchup on Saturday, February 25 at 1 p.m. Watch every game of the 2023 Subway AUS Basketball Championships on AUStv.ca.

Source: Jonathan Briggins for Atlantic University Sport