By Daniel Simpkin
Halifax, NS – The UNB REDS beat the Dalhousie Tigers 69-60 at Dalplex in Halifax, Nova Scotia on March 6th, 2022.
Jolianne Guay (Prévost, QC) opened the scoring for the REDS with a three-pointer from the right side of the arc early in the game.
Both teams struggled to get into an offensive rhythm throughout the first quarter. Despite having four turnovers at the quarter break, the Tigers led with a tight three-point lead over the REDS - 13-10 Tigers.
Lia Kentzler (Göttingen, Germany) was a major defensive presence for the Tigers in the key after picking up three defensive rebounds and a block in the first quarter.
Jennifer Nkuah (Brampton, ON) opened the second with a big block for the REDS.
Soon after, Andrea Hebert (St. Catharines, ON) hit a momentum shifting three-pointer from deep outside the REDS arc and extended the Tigers lead to 16-10.
Kylee Speedy (Fredericton, NB) and McKinley Bezanson (Hantsport, NS) combined for back-to-back REDS 3-pointers in an effort that cut the Tigers lead to 20-16.
At 3:11 in the second quarter, the REDS tied the game at 22-22 behind a mid-range jump shot from Erin Ingalls (St. George, NB).
A close game at halftime saw the Tigers lead 26-24 over the REDS. Katie Crombeen (Calgary, AB) led the scoring for the Tigers with nine points and Bezanson led for the REDS with five in the first half. Hannah Chadwick (Toronto, ON) dominated the rebounding stat-line with six overall rebounds.
At the half, the Tigers were shooting 25% from the field with 6/24 and the REDS had 21.2% on 7/33 made field goal attempts.
Emma Ward (Moncton, NB) scored the first three-point shot of the half for the Tigers after both teams traded four back-to-back scoring possessions.
Four minutes into the third quarter, the Tigers claimed the first substantial lead of the game up seven with a score of 41-34.
Guay hit her second three-pointer for the REDS and kept the Tigers from extending their lead any further.
Then, with 53 seconds left to play, Anna Parsons (Calgary, AB) picked up a crucial steal from the REDS and assisted Chadwick on the other end in scoring a lay-up.
The Tigers led at the end of the third quarter 43-41.
Kentzler opened the scoring in the fourth with two made penalty shots and a mid-range jump shot for the Tigers.
A crucial lay-up for the REDS by Katie McAffee (Lower Knoxford, NB) tied up the game at 51-51 shortly before Kentzler again extended the Tigers lead to 53-51.
Jolianne Guay hit an emphatic three-point shot (her third of the game) and gave the REDS their first lead of the fourth quarter. The REDS led 56-53 with 4:25 left to play.
Hebert came up big for the Tigers with back-to-back possessions where she got a steal and a block.
Marley Curwin (Halifax, NS) hit a massive 3-pointer for the REDS with 2:05 left and stretched the REDS cushion to 62-55.
The REDS managed to edge out the Tigers in the fourth quarter and won the game 69-60.
The Subway Player of the game for the REDS was Julianne Guay who went 3/4 from behind the arc and had 15 points in the game.
Hannah Chadwick led the Tigers with 19 points, nine rebounds, and two assists.
Next week, the Tigers host Cape Breton University on Friday March 11th, and the REDS play the Saint Mary's University Huskies on the same day.