McMillan pours in 27 as Huskies defeat Tigers 84-73
HALIFAX, NS – Saint Mary's guard Alaina McMillan scored a season-high 27 points and added five assists, leading the U SPORTS #7 ranked Huskies (8-2) to a 84-73 win over the Dalhousie Tigers (0-11) on Saturday night at the Dalplex in Halifax.
Courtney Donaldson (Kelowna, BC) sank the first shot of the day with a corner three, which started a Saint Mary's 7-0 run before Kaitlyn Ferrier's (Calgary, AB) layup ended the streak.
Dalhousie stormed back to make it 11-8, but Alaina McMillan's (Brantford, ON) midrange bucket, and a layup by Marlo Steenbakkers' (Ottawa, ON) brought the lead back up to seven.
HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��
— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) January 6, 2024
Marlo Steenbakkers doing damage down low! 8 points and 3 rebounds in the first quarter as the Huskies lead 20-16 after 10 minutes. pic.twitter.com/xK7IVFPLCT
The Huskies held their seven point lead to make it 17-10, but with three minutes left in the quarter Ferrier drove into the paint, sank the bucket, and was fouled in the process.
Sydney Guker-Wickie (Kitchner, ON) added a three point shot to narrow the lead to one, and with a Huskies' turnover, the Tigers set themselves up to take the lead.
The experienced Saint Mary's squad did not let this happen as Aki Kobayashi (Osaka, Japan) stole the inbound and McMillan drained a three pointer to end the quarter up 20-16.
Saint Mary's took momentum, when with a two point lead, McMillan silenced the crowd by swishing a three, made a technical foul shot, and followed that up with another three point make to force a Dalhousie timeout.
Out of the timeout, McMillan's stifling defence forced a jump ball, but it was not enough as Guker-Wickie's layup beat the shot clock buzzer.
Ferrier made an acrobatic midrange shot to do her best to keep the Saint Mary's lead below double digits, but Donaldson found Lucina Beaumont (Fredericton, NB) for a long two to wipe away the Tigers' effort.
McMillan scored an acrobatic scoop layup to bring the lead up to 49-29, followed that up with a steal, and found Beaumont for a fast break layup.
HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��
— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) January 6, 2024
Courtney Donaldson and Alaina McMillan looking like a quarterback and wide receiver on the transition breakout! Huskies lead 41-29 in the second quarter. pic.twitter.com/h7T7nrhZ6U
Saint Mary's exited the court with a 55-31 lead.
The teams went scoreless for the first minute and a half of the new quarter until Donaldson's three continued the scoring onslaught for the Huskies.
Guker-Wickie's strip block and three point make brought the lead back to 61-39, but Aliyah Fraser (New Glasgow, NS) found an open Chole Wilson (Dartmouth, NS) who scooped in the layup to restore Saint Mary's lead.
Dalhousie looked to build momentum, and Matic's steal led to a Eva Widmeyer (Dartmouth, NS) fast break layup.
By the end of the third quarter Saint Mary's had amassed a 70-48 lead.
HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��
— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) January 6, 2024
Julia Black hits for three! Huskies lead 70-48 after the third quarter. pic.twitter.com/AgqcczD9mo
The Huskies continued to put on the points when Katelyn Power (Bayside, NS) intercepted the pass, and then found a streaking McMillan for another layup.
Dalhousie did their best to comeback with Sarah Valley (Regina SK) making a three pointer, and then Ferrier banking in a layup plus the foul, but she missed the free throw.
HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��
— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) January 6, 2024
Courtney Donaldson hits her third three of the night! Huskies lead 78-59 in the fourth quarter. pic.twitter.com/1E3fQ7pOhL
When the final buzzer rang the Huskies were off with a 84-73 win.
Alaina McMillan led the Huskies with 27 points, adding five assists, two steals and a block and was named Player of the Game. Clara Gascoigne chipped in 18 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals, while Marlo Steenbakkers added 11 points and six rebounds.
The Tigers were led by guard Sydney Guker-Wickie with a career-high 22 points and six rebounds, while Kaitlyn Ferrier chipped in 17 points and nine rebounds.
The Huskies win improved their record to 8-2 on the season, while the Tigers loss dropped them to 0-10. The Huskies will be back in action next Saturday, Jan. 13 as they visit the UNB REDS at 6 p.m. in Fredericton, NB.
Recap by: Ethan Hunt / Dalhousie Tigers Athletics
Photos by: Milana Paddock / Dalhousie Tigers Athletics