Big second half leads Reds to 81-61 win over X-Women

Antigonish, NS - The UNB Reds outscored the StFX X-Women 42-30 in the second half en route to an 81-61 victory Saturday night at the StFX Saputo Centre.

The win was worth four points in the AUS standings as the Reds improved to 8-9 on the season. The X-Women drop to 3-14 and are officially eliminated from AUS playoff contention.

Subway player of the game Mikaela Dodig (Bolton, ON) scored a game-high 23 points to the lead the Reds, and added six rebounds, six assists and a steal.

The first quarter was evenly played as both squads exchanged baskets throughout the opening 10 minutes of play. Marley Bonnick (Brampton, ON) hit a pair of three-pointers for X as they took a 19-16 lead after the opening quarter.

The X-Women increased their lead to open the second quarter of play. Aliyah Fraser (New Glasgow, NS) drained a three-pointer three minutes in to give them a 28-20 advantage.  

The Reds came right back however and took their first lead of the game later in the quarter, going up 33-28 with three minutes left in the half as they went on a 13 point run.

Katie Daley (Hanwell, NB) started the run with back-to-back baskets from beyond the arc and the Reds had sharp shooting from Dodig and Eva Tumwine (Fredericton, NB) as they lead 39-31 at halftime.

The X-Women were unable to get back into the game as UNB continued their strong play into the third quarter and built up a 12-point lead, 49-37 in the opening four minutes of play.

StFX could not mount an offensive attack as the Reds shut them down late in the quarter and held a 57-43 lead after three.

The X-Women put more points up in the fourth quarter but were outscored 24-18 as the Reds held on for the 20-point margin of victory.

Along with Dodig's 23 points, three more Reds players hit the double scoring digits including Tumwine with 18, Jolianne Guay (Prevost, QC) with 14 and Grace Simpson (Fredericton, NB) with 10.

For the X-Women, Fraser finished with 14 points and Bonnick had 12, as did Emma Norris (Edmonton, AB) off the X bench.

StFX will be back in AUS action on Wednesday night, February 12^th when they host Saint Mary's.

UNB will hit the court at home Saturday night, February 15^th when they host Memorial.

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Courtesy StFX Sports Information