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Widmeyer lights up REDS for 37 points in thrilling 85-84 overtime victory
Posted: Nov 11, 2022

Widmeyer lights up REDS for 37 points in thrilling 85-84 overtime victory

Tickets Photos Box Score
Game Leaders
UNB
Pts: Kylee Speedy - 21
Reb: 2 Players (#9, #21) - 7
Ast: Katie McAffee - 7
Saint Mary's
Pts: Sophia Widmeyer - 37
Reb: 2 Players (#11, #14) - 7
Ast: Alaina McMillan - 3
Team Stats
Full stats

HALIFAX, NS – Saint Mary's guard Sophia Widmeyer (Dartmouth, NS), racked up a U SPORTS Women's Basketball season-high 37 points to lead the Huskies to a thrilling 85-84 win over the #7 ranked UNB REDS on Friday night at the Homburg Centre in Halifax.

"It feels awesome, we played really well tonight," said Widmeyer post-game. "We were down 12 in the fourth quarter, and our goal was to stay with it, keep driving, take the shots we're good at, and defend and rebound, and we were able to get it to overtime and win it."

Widmeyer dominated from the jump, scoring her side's first eight points on fast transition drives to the rim, and a shot-clock beating reverse layup by guard Clara Gascoigne (Dartmouth, NS) gave the Huskies a 10-6 lead midway through the first.

The REDS responded with a 12-0 run, led by guard Kylee Speedy (Fredericton, NB), who came off the bench and provided instant offence for her team, scoring eight first quarter points. The Huskies ended the first quarter on a 6-0 run of their own, and a buzzer-beating lay-in by guard Aki Kobayashi (Halifax, NS), cut the REDS lead to 18-16 heading into the second quarter.

A back-and-forth second quarter saw the REDS outscore the Huskies 23-22, with Widmeyer (12 points) and Speedy (seven points) continuing to lead their sides. An early three by Widmeyer gave the home team their largest lead of the first half, 23-18, and Widmeyer hit another three plus the foul to put the Huskies up 27-24 midway through the quarter.

The REDS came storming back, beginning with a three-pointer by last season's AUS MVP Jayda Veinot (Port Williams, NS) and continued by some solid team play, as seven different REDS hit the scoresheet in the second quarter, and the team took a 41-38 lead into halftime.

A competitive first half saw five ties and five lead changes. The Huskies were led by Widmeyer, who scored 22 first half points on 8/14 shooting from the field and 3/4 from beyond the arc, but received just four points off their bench, all from Kobayashi. In contrast the REDS' bench dropped 24 first half points, led by Speedy with 15 points on 6/8 from the field, and Nkuah who added seven points and three assists.

The third quarter was a defensive grind, as both teams keyed in on stopping the opponent's main weapon, as Widmeyer and Speedy each scored just two points in the quarter. The REDS were able to open up a 48-44 lead, but all-star guard Alaina McMillan (Brantford, ON) scored five straight points to regain the lead, and the Huskies led 51-50 heading into the final quarter.

The REDS opened up the fourth quarter on fire, as Veinot, McKinley Bezanson (Hantsport, NS) and McAfee each hit threes as part of a 11-0 run to put the visitors up 61-51. The Huskies responded with back-to-back layups by Widmeyer and forward Lucina Beaumont (Fredericton, NB), but the REDS hot shooting continued as Jolianne Guay (Prevost, QC) and Marley Curwin (Halifax, NS) connected on back-to-back threes to give the REDS their largest lead of the night, 67-55 with 4:26 remaining.

After a time-out the Huskies began chipping away, with Widmeyer hitting a pair of three's, and Gascoigne and forward  Marlo Steenbakkers (Ottawa, ON) hitting three's of their own to cut the REDS lead to 74-69 with 1:18 remaining. A Widmeyer lay-up cut the lead to three, and then McMillan was fouled on a three-point attempt. The senior guard hit two of three free-throws, but the Huskies got the offensive rebound and Widmeyer was fouled, sending her to the line where she hit one of two to tie the game at 74-74 and force overtime.

The thrilling back-and-forth action continued in the extra period, with Veinot opening scoring with a three-pointer, quickly followed by another basket from Widmeyer. With the game all tied up at 83-83, McMillan found Steenbakkers for a lay-up, and the Huskies wouldn't look back, locking down defensively to win it 85-84.

Sophia Widmeyer was named Subway Player of the Game with 37 points, a U SPORTS Women's Basketball season high, and her own AUS career high, and added six rebounds.

"I feel accomplished," said Widmeyer post-game. "I'm happy with my team, I'm happy with my decision to come to Saint Mary's. I couldn't do it without my team and coaches. They believe in me, they push me everyday in practice, and I just feel on top of the world."

Alaina McMillan added 19 points for the Huskies– scoring nine in the fourth quarter and overtime – while Lucina Beaumont chipped in nine points and seven boards.

The REDS were led by guards Kylee Speedy with 21 points off the bench, and Jayda Veinot with 18 points and seven rebounds – the sharpshooting backcourt shot a combined 16/23 from the floor and 8/8 from beyond the arc.

The win improved the Huskies record to 4-1 on the season, while the REDS dropped to 4-1. The two teams will face-off again tomorrow, with the rematch tipping off at 6 p.m. at the Homburg Centre. GET TICKETS

Recap by Lauren Phillips / SMU Huskies Athletics
Photos by Mona Ghiz / SMU Huskies Athletics