CAPERS Falter in Second Half Against UNB

(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB Reds broke open a close game in the second half, beating the Cape Breton Capers 60-44, on Sunday afternoon.

Mikaela Dodig (Bolton, ON) led all scorers with 21 points, earning Subway Player of the Game honours.

"It was a good win, we wanted to get both games this weekend and we accomplished that," said Dodig. "We've been struggling a lot in the second, but today we put it all together and took the game away from them in the fourth quarter."

A slow-moving first quarter saw the teams, playing their second game in less than 24 hours, trade baskets. The Capers led 16-14 after 10 minutes.

Both sides continued to go back and forth in the second quarter, and neither side was able to establish an advantage. 

Late in the third quarter, the Reds pulled out a 36-32 lead, then went up 41-34 on back-to-back Dodig baskets, including a three-pointer, the biggest lead either team had seen to that point.

The Reds led 42-37 through three quarters.

In the fourth, UNB extended the lead to 10 points at 47-37, and pushed it to 55-39 with just over four minutes to play.

The Reds then limited the Capers' opportunities down the stretch, winning 60-44.

"Speedy's kids played really hard. They're a good group of kids, they played really hard, they played good D, they're well coached. My buddy's doing a good job over there." said CAPERS Head Coach Fabian McKenzie.

The win is the third straight for the Reds, who are now 5-and-5 this season.

"I think they played well and hard until we finally got up by 10, then it kind of felt like we had control for the first time," said Reds head coach Jeff Speedy. "It was nice to have that mental toughness to pull it out and win back-to-back games against the same team."

Eva Tumwine (Fredericton, NB) came off the Reds bench to score 11 points and grab six rebounds, while Katie Daley (Hanwell, NB) pulled down a game-high nine rebounds.

MacKenzee Ryan (Glace Bay, NS) led the Capers, scoring 11 points, while Audrey Rankin (Prince George's County, Maryland) and Monique Calliste (Toronto, ON) each had six rebounds.

The Capers, now 3-and-7, return home to face the UPEI Panthers next Saturday.

The Reds go on the road next weekend. They face Dalhousie Friday, before visiting Saint Mary's on Saturday.

RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics

PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics