Huskies down Sea-Hawks to advance to semifinal game vs Acadia

(HALIFAX, N.S.) Friday afternoon's first women's quarterfinal matchup of the Subway AUS Women's Basketball Championship featured the fourth-place Saint Mary's Huskies topping the fifth-place Memorial Sea-Hawks 71-61 at the Scotiabank Centre.

Memorial opened the game strong on both ends of the floor, using the length of players like Brooklyn Wright to force the Huskies into contested shots, and keeping them to 15.8% FG in the first quarter.

The Sea-Hawks' AUS second team all-star, Sydney Stewart pushed the pace early, getting the rim for two layups and four attempts at the free throw line.

Despite their success getting to the free throw line the Sea-Hawks were only able to make good on three of their eight free throw attempts in the quarter, shooting 37.5% from the stripe.

The Huskies also struggled early with their shooting, only connecting on three of their 19 field goal attempts in the frame.

After 10 minutes the Sea-Hawks held a 16-6 lead.

Saint Mary's responded in the second quarter, using a 13-0 run over the first four minutes, which began with back-to-back three pointers by Jada Yeo, to take a 19-16 lead.

Jasmine Cain led the Huskies with seven points while also dishing out five assists as they led the Sea-Hawks 25-24 at the end of the first half.

Sydney Stewart led all scorers at the half with nine points, also contributing three rebounds and a steal.

The Huskies continued to look strong after the break, jumping out to a 35-28 lead midway through the third.

However, it was the Sea-Hawks' turn to respond, battling back thanks to threes by Rosie Stanoev and Haille Nickerson, tying the game at 39 with two minutes to play in the quarter.

Saint Mary's finished the third quarter leading Memorial 44-39.

Again the Huskies came out of the break with intensity, pushing the lead to 61-48, their largest lead of the game.

Stewart and the Sea-Hawks continued to battle, cutting the lead down to seven with 1:30 left to play, but the Huskies' Jada Yeo shut the door on Memorial's comeback with another set of back-to-back three pointers, securing the win for Saint Mary's.

Kennisha-Shanice Luberisse led the Huskies with 17 points while Sydney Stewart led the Sea-Hawks with a game-high 28

Saint Mary's Katrina Murrell was named Subway Player of the Game. She finished with 12 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and two steals for the Huskies.

Luberisse was named the Wilsons Security Defensive Player of the Game.

The Huskies move on to face the top-seeded Acadia Axewomen Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. in the first of two women's semifinals at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax.