Straker scores 15 as STFX knocks off three-time defending champs

HALIFAX, NS (Feb. 20, 2026) - For the first time since 2022, there will be a new Atlantic University Sport (AUS) women's basketball champion. 

The fourth-seeded STFX X-Women received some clutch shooting late as they knocked off the three-time defending champion Saint Mary's Huskies 57-48 in AUS Women's Basketball Championship quarterfinal action played Friday afternoon at the Scotiabank Centre. 

STFX now advances to Saturday's semifinal where they will meet the top-ranked UNB REDS. Game time is set for 1pm. 

Saint Mary's had not played in an AUS Basketball Championship Friday quarterfinal game since 2022, but they finished the regular season with an 8-12 record – good for fifth in the league and a Day 1 matchup at Scotiabank Centre. 

STFX finished just ahead of the Huskies in fourth place at 13-7. The X-Women, who fell to Cape Breton in last year's quarterfinal contest, now keep alive their hope of earning their first AUS title since 1997. 

Neither side shot the ball particularly well in the opening half with SMU managing a 31.8 percentage from the field, while the X-Women replied with a 31.1 percentage. Where the difference was made was the fact STFX had 45 field goal attempts and the Huskies just 22. 

The extra attempts came thanks to the X-Women grabbing 11 offensive rebounds in the first and second quarters, leading to 11 big second-chance points. 

Ayla White (Ancaster, ON) led the X-Women with 10 points at the break. 

While STFX dominated the second quarter, the Huskies nailed back-to-back threes from Kalli Georgoulias (Mississauga, Ont.) and Lauren Armstrong (Canberra, Australia) in the final minute of the half to cut a 17-point deficit to 36-25 at the half. 

Armstrong finished the half with 11 points to lead all scorers. 

The third saw both teams tighten up defensively, as they combined for just 17 points. 

SMU cut the lead to seven points (40-33) just over five minutes into the quarter when Georgoulias made good on all three free throws after being fouled on a three-point attempt.  

However, the Huskies failed to score for the remainder of the quarter while STFX's Mali Straker (Yellowknife, NT) hit her own three-point shot and then followed it up with a layup to get the lead back to 12 (45-33) going into the fourth. 

The fourth saw the Huskies show their championship mettle, as they opened the final 10 minutes of play with an 11-1 run that lasted nearly seven minutes and cut STFX's lead to 46-44 with 3:17 left. 

X responded with a huge three-pointer from Straker to go back up 49-44, only to have teammate Kristine Cooper (Hamilton, ON) hit one of her own 40 seconds later to put her team up 52-44. 

Abby Mercer (Wolfville, NS) put the final nail of SMU's coffin with yet another late three, this one coming with just 29 seconds left. 

Straker finished with game-high 15 points, while Mercer added 13 of her own. 

Armstrong and Emily Dikdan (Sudbury, ON) each scored 13 for the Huskies. 

Shannon Neita was named STFX's Player of the Game after recording four points, eight rebounds and three steals in the win.