CAPERS Move to 8-1 with 68-57 win over UNB

(FREDERICTON, NB) The Cape Breton Capers scored a 68-57 win over the UNB Reds on Friday night, the first of a two-game weekend series, in Fredericton.

Hannah Brown (North Sydney, NS) led the visitors, registering a double-double with 28 points and 13 rebounds. "I was just doing what I try to do every game," said Brown, named Subway Player of the Game. "If I need to put up those numbers for us to play well, then great, but everybody contributed to this game tonight."

The home side got off to a good start. After Cape Breton won the opening tip, Mikaela Dodig (Bolton, ON) took possession in the Reds zone and marched the length of the court before dropping a short-range jump shot to give UNB the early 2-0 lead. The Reds would build a five-point lead before the Capers came to life. Brown poured in 12 points in the opening quarter as the Capers took a 21-20 lead after 10:00.

It was a close game until the final minute of the second quarter when Mackenzee Ryan (Glace Bay, NS) scored five points over the final 30 seconds to extend Cape Breton's lead to 37-30 at the half. The Capers held the Reds to just eight points in the third quarter as they pushed their lead to 54-38.

The Reds staged a bit of a late rally, outscoring the Capers 19-14 in the final quarter, but UNB could not come all the way back. Eva Tumwine (Fredericton, NB) led the Reds with 20 points. "We scored 10 in one quarter and we just can do that when they're outscoring us," said Tumwine. "Once you get in a hole, it's hard to fight back. We were down almost 20, and that's hard to come back from."

Ja'Yon Leak (Charlotte, NC) had nine points for the Reds, while Grace Simpson (Fredericton, NB) had eight points and eight rebounds. UNB got just eight points off their bench. "It is disappointing," said Tumwine, noting the Reds comeback victory over Memorial last Sunday. "We were hoping we'd be able to do it again today, but now we're just looking to tomorrow."

With the loss, the Reds are now 6-4. The Capers are 8-1, the win coming in the wake of their first loss of the season. "We felt that feeling of losing, and as much as it sucks, I feel it was necessary for us to feel that, so we could bounce back and we could work through that," said Brown. "I think that's what we did today and we feel really good about it."

The Reds and Capers tangle again on Saturday, with tip-off scheduled for 1:00 pm.

RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics

PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics