X-Women lose close game to Huskies

Antigonish, N.S. - In a back-and-forth battle, the CIS #3 ranked Saint Mary's Huskies (17-1) made a late fourth-quarter run to defeat the StFX X-Women (3-14) 78-70 in AUS basketball action Friday evening at the Oland Centre.

The Huskies, who are in first place in the conference, have won 12 consecutive games.

In a tightly-contested first quarter, the visitors jumped to an early 10-6 lead after a three-point shot from veteran guard Angelina Carvery (Halifax, NS).

Keyed by a couple of steals and four straight points from Marcy Robinson (Bastrop, LA), off the bench, the X-Women took a 14-12 edge.

On the power of a buzzer-beating shot from beyond the arc by Carvery, the Huskies led 19-17 after the first quarter.

Early in the second quarter, led by five points from Kolbi Roper (North Vancouver, BC), including an old-fashioned three-point play - the hoop and the harm - the X-Women took a 24-21 advantage.

During that burst, the home team also received a spark from Korenda Colley (Dartmouth, NS), who chipped in six points off the bench.

On consecutive hoops from Roper and Kim Taylor (Toronto, ON), the X-Women took a 38-31 lead - their largest of the game.

The Huskies closed the opening 20 minutes with a 5-2 scoring edge, including a three-pointer from Laura Langille (Bedford, NS) to make it 40-36 at halftime.

After the first five minutes of the third quarter, the sides were deadlocked 47-47.

Pushed by a trio of three-point shots from fifth-year senior Rachelle Coward (Dartmouth, NS), along with one deep make from Jenny Lewis (Fall River, NS), the Huskies took a 56-52 edge.

Coward, with her fourth three-ball of the quarter, gave Saint Mary's a 59-54 margin.

The X-Women responded with a couple key baskets, including a hoop from Lindsay Lessard (Waterloo, ON), and the Huskies led 60-56 after three quarters.

At the outset of the fourth quarter, Taylor completed a three-point play and StFX trailed 64-61.

After an offensive rebound and basket from Roper, the X-Women cut the lead to 68-65, with five minutes remaining in regulation.

In the final minutes, the X-Women could not close the gap any further, with the Huskies hitting their free throws and Coward sealing the deal with her final three-point basket.

Coward led the Huskies with 21 points, while adding five rebounds, one assist and one blocked shot.

Carvery, with 18, and Lewis and Langille, who notched 10 points apiece, reached double digits for Saint Mary's.

Carvery completed the double-double with 10 rebounds, while adding four assists and one blocked shot.

Guard Kennisha-Shanice Luberisse (Montreal, QC), the Subway player of the game, corralled 10 rebounds, while contributing six points, four assists, two blocked shots and one steal.

For the X-Women, Lessard - on 10-for-21 from the field - meshed a game-high 27 points, while adding eight rebounds, four assists and two steals.

Roper scored 14, with nine rebounds and one steal, while Colley and Robinson added six points each.

Colley had five rebounds, while Shannon Hatch (Arzo, Switzerland) pulled six off the glass.

Courtney Kilyk (Fonthill, ON) collected an X-Women best five assists.

The X-Women will be back in action Saturday, Feb. 20, when they host the rival Cape Breton University Capers in a 6 p.m. tip-off.

The Huskies will return to the court Tuesday, Feb. 23, when they travel to Wolfville to face the Acadia Axewomen. Game time is 6 p.m.

-30-