The Saint Mary’s Huskies enjoyed a tremendous run at the Atlantic University Sport women’s basketball championship, but fell just short in the end.
The Huskies, playing their third game in as many days, lost 69-60 to the host Cape Breton Capers in yesterday’s final to narrowly miss their first title in 33 years.
Tied 50-50 after three quarters, the Capers pulled away in the final frame, getting 23 points and eight rebounds from tournament MVP Kari Everett and 21 more from two-time national scoring champion Kelsey Hodgson.
“We had an opportunity,” said Huskies head coach Scott Munro. “I thought we played well. Cape Breton is a very good basketball team and they got it done today.”
Huskies rookie Justine Colley, who averaged more than 25 points per game on the weekend, piled up 23 yesterday en route to tournament all-star honours, while Kelsey Daley chipped in with 16 and also earned an all-star nod.
The top-seeded Capers were the more rested team after enjoying a bye to the semifinals. The third-seeded Huskies needed to beat the Acadia Axewomen in Friday’s quarter-finals before upsetting the No. 2 Memorial Sea-Hawks on Saturday.
“Cape Breton buckled down and they were tough when they had to be,” Munro said. “We were a couple of shots away, 50-50, from changing the complexion of the game, but it didn’t happen.”
The Capers advanced to the final by ousting the Dalhousie Tigers 61-56 in Saturday’s semifinal. It was the second straight title for the Capers. They advance to nationals from March 12 to 14 in Hamilton, Ont.
