Top-ranked Axewomen rally for road win over X-Women

Antigonish, NS – On a record-setting night for Allie Berry (Yarmouth, NS), the U SPORTS #1-ranked Acadia Axewomen (9-0) rallied in the second half for an 84-63 victory over the StFX X-Women (0-9) in Atlantic University Sport basketball action Wednesday on Coach K Court at Oland Centre.

The fifth-year senior forward became the all-time leading rebounder in Axewomen program history, with 668, surpassing former Acadia standout Abbey Duinker (660).

Berry, who finished with 13 rebounds, scored 20 of her 28 points in the fourth quarter, to earn Subway player of the game, as the Axewomen pulled away from the winless X-Women, who led 33-25 at halftime.

In the first quarter, Acadia jumped to a 14-3 advantage, on the strength of a three-point shot and assist from veteran guard Chanel Smith (Halifax, NS), who found Barry for an easy lay-up.

Over the final three minutes of the opening stanza and early in the second quarter, StFX made a 13-0 spurt to take a three-point lead (17-14).

With a shot block and basket from post player Kendra Smith (North Preston, NS), the X-Women were up 18-15 after the first quarter.

After back-to-back hoops from freshman guard Kimberly Kingsbury (Nepean, ON) and a baseline jumper from Holly Scott (Antigonish, NS), early in the second quarter, StFX took their largest lead at 29-21.

Haley McDonald (Port Williams, NS), who finished with 23 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals, drained a three-pointer to slice the Axewomen deficit to five (29-24).

Keyed by the long-distance punch from McDonald, who finished with 13 points in the third quarter, Acadia started the second half on a 17-2 run to pull in front 42-35.

Heading to the fourth quarter, the visitors led 52-44.

In the final 10 minutes, the X-Women scored the first six points, including a Scott shot from beyond-the-arc, to make it 52-50 for the Axewomen, but the hometown would get no closer.

Ellen Hatt (Fall River, NS), with a pair of three-pointers, helped seal the deal later in the game for Acadia. She scored 10 points off the bench.

All-Canadian guard Paloma Anderson (Wolfville, NS) finished with 11 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.

Kingsbury, the X-Women player of the game, finished with 12 points, seven assists and five rebounds.

Jamie McCarron (New Glasgow, NS) and Samantha Minicucci (Mississauga, ON) also hit double figures – with 11 points apiece – while chipping in eight and four rebounds, respectively.

The teams return to the court Saturday, Jan. 13, in a return match-up at War Memorial Gymnasium in Wolfville. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.

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