Capers defeat Huskies 84-67 in Sydney

SYDNEY, NS - Led by a monster performance from junior forward Kiyara Letlow (Toronto, ON) – who finished with 31 points and 21 rebounds – the Cape Breton University Capers (3-0) scored a home-opening 84-67 victory over the Saint Mary's Huskies (2-1) in Atlantic University Sport women's basketball action Friday evening at Sullivan Fieldhouse.

Letlow – who was named the Chartwells player of the game for the Capers – played every minute of the early-season match-up with the defending conference champions.

In the first quarter, the Huskies jumped out to an early 9-4 advantage, keyed by points from early offensive opportunities. And, after a layup from Lucina Beaumont (Fredericton, NB), the visitors led 18-11.

Saint Mary's led 26-22 after the first quarter.

Four minutes into the second stanza, after a reverse base line lay-up from Letlow, the hometown Capers led 29-28.

After a sensational offensive rebound from Amanda Cruickshank (Montreal, QC) and put back, CBU extended their edge to 33-30.

Keyed by a pair of late three-pointers from Hannah Smith (Bedford, NS), included one in the final seconds, the Capers took a 43-36 advantage to the locker room.

CBU outscored Saint Mary's 21-10 in the second quarter, while holding a lopsided 22-11 edge in rebounding.

In the third quarter, the Huskies answered, outscoring the Capers 15-8 to knot the game at 51-51, with just under four minutes remaining, on a three-pointer by Marlo Steenbakkers (Ottawa, ON).

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Alaina McMillan sets up Marlo Steenbakkers for the three to tie the game up at 51-51 late in the third quarter! pic.twitter.com/RcpDkxNRz7

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) November 3, 2023

Sparked by the hard-nosed play of Cruickshank and Darah Fleurgin (Montreal, QC) – on both ends of the floor – CBU finished the quarter on a 10-1 burst to lead 61-52.

The Capers started the fourth quarter with six consecutive points – making it a 16-1 run spanning the two second-half stanzas – to lead 67-52.

The exclamation point of the burst came when MacLeod made a steal just inside her zone, before leading a fast break and making a nifty wrap-around pass to Letlow for a lay-in.

Aliyah Fraser (New Glasgow, NS) ended the run with a three-pointer to trim the Saint Mary's deficit to 12 points.

On a basket from Courtney Donaldson (Kelowna, BC), the Huskies sliced the Caper lead to 71-64, but they could get no closer.

The Capers put the finishing touches on the victory with an 8-1 run.

Along with Letlow's third double-double of the young season, MacLeod added 13 points, four rebounds, two steals and one assist, while Cruickshank added 10 points, eight rebounds and three assists and a steal. Fleurgin, off the bench, chipped 12 points, seven rebounds and two assists.

For the Huskies, Donaldson finished with a team-high 17 points, while Alaina McMillan (Brantford, ON) added 12 points and seven assists.

The teams will be back in action tomorrow – Saturday, Nov. 4 – at 6 p.m. ADT, in the second half of the weekend doubleheader.

Recap by Corey LeBlanc / Capers Athletics
Photos by Vaughan Sheppard / Capers Athletics