SMU defeats cross-town rival Dalhousie 72-49

The CIS No. 3 SMU Huskies defeated the Dalhousie Tigers 72-49 Wednesday evening in AUS women's basketball action from the Homburg Centre.

Rachelle Coward (Dartmouth, NS) and fellow fifth-year senior Laura Langille (Bedford, NS) powered the SMU offence with 39 of their teams 72 points.

Coward and Langille played their final home game at Homburg Centre as SMU plays their last three games on the road.

Coward led all scorers with 21 points and Langille had 18 for SMU, who hold the top spot at 16-1 in the AUS loop.

Diedre Alexander (Woodstock, NB) paced Dal with 16 points while Megan Thompson (Brantfrod, ON) added 14 and Sophie Gaube had 12.

Dal drops to 6-12 and currently sits in fifth-place with 16 points, two ahead of 5-13 UPEI.

Saint Mary's jumped out to a 17-14 opening quarter lead and outscored Dal 18-13 in the second frame, ending the half up 35-27.

The Huskies opened the second half with a 21-11 third quarter score and went ahead 56-38 after thirty minutes.

A 16-11 final frame saw SMU cruise to the 72-49 victory. Montreal native Kennisha-Shanice Luberisse added 10 points and nine rebounds for SMU while Jenny Lewis (Halifax, NS) had nine points and four rebounds.

Shanieka Wood (Ajax, ON) finished with two points and 12 rebounds for the Huskies while Katrina Murrell (Markham, ON) had five points.

With the win the Huskies claim a bye into the semi-finals at the 2016 Subway AUS Women's Basketball Championships at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia March 4-6th.

SMU holds a four-point lead over 15-2 Acadia while 11-6 CBU sits third with 28 points.

10-7 UNB is fourth with 24 points and 5-13 UPEI holds the final playoff spot with 14 points.

Up next SMU visits STFX Friday night and Dal travels to UPEI Saturday evening.

Saint Mary`s visits Acadia February 23rd and CBU February 27th.