X-Women cruise past Memorial with dominant defensive effort

St. John's, NF - The STFX X-Women opened the AUS regular season with an emphatic 67–34 win over the Memorial Sea-Hawks Friday evening at The Works Field House, powered by a balanced attack and suffocating team defense.

STFX set the tone early, jumping out to a 19–8 lead after the first quarter and never looking back. The X-Women held Memorial to just 15.1% shooting from the floor and only three fourth-quarter points to seal the victory.

Forward Shannon Neita led the way with a strong all-around performance, posting 11 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals. Mikaela James paced the offense with 14 points and two three-pointers, while Louise Rouse provided a spark off the bench with 13 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists for a double-double.

The X-Women's depth shone throughout the lineup - Ayla White was perfect from beyond the arc, scoring 9 points in 12 minutes, and Lauren Neeve added 5 points on flawless shooting. STFX dominated the glass with a 40–31 rebounding advantage and converted 43.1% of their shots compared to Memorial's 15.1%.

For the Sea-Hawks, Naomie Chaperon Duce scored a team-high 10 points, while Serena Phillips chipped in 9. Memorial struggled to find rhythm offensively, going just 2-for-26 from three-point range.

The same two teams will be back in action Saturday night at 6:00 pm as the X-Women look to sweep the weekend series on the road.

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