Port Williams native breaks another Acadia record
The Acadia women’s basketball records keep falling.
This time, second-year Axewoman Haley Mcdonald broke the record for three-point shots made in a single season once held by Emma Duinker.
In the first of two meetings between the Axewomen and the Dalhousie Tigers, Mcdonald posted a game-high 32 points that included the four three-point baskets needed to break Duinker’s record.
“I had no idea the record was coming up. I walked up to sub in and the guy at the scorer’s table said you need one more. I had no idea what he was talking about. I didn’t know if he meant one more point, one more minute. I didn’t understand, but, I mean, there are a lot of Acadia all-time greats and it’s nice to be on the list. My teammates give me the ball, so I can’t say much,” said Mcdonald following the game.
Acadia netted 38 points in the paint, added nine three-point baskets to the mix and had 38 points scored by the bench. The Axewomen out-gunned the Tigers in all statistical categories in their 93-53 win over the Tigers Feb. 15.
With 47 per cent from the floor, the Axewomen held on to a lead for the game’s entirety. Posting a 50-23 lead after one half, the Axewomen recorded their largest lead of 48 with just over four minutes remaining in the game.
Four Axewomen scored in Port Williams native Haley Mcdonald is the latest record breaker for the Axewomen: she broke the record for three-point shots made in a single season.
double digits including Mcdonald’s 32 points. Paloma Anderson netted 16 points and added 12 rebounds, while teammate Allie Berry scored 18 points and had 13
rebounds. Chanel Smith drained two shots from the distant arc and added 10 points to the team total.
In their second match-up against the Tigers Feb. 17, the Axewomen pushed the pace throughout the game and used their transition to get an early lead. Acadia came away with the 92-72 win and clinched first place in the AUS standings with a 17-2 record.
Mcdonald put together an impressive first quarter, going 5-7 from the field with two of them from deep for a 14-point quarter. The Tigers were forced into late shot clock options that weren’t falling for them, and as a result trailed 30-13 at the end of the first.
The Tigers were able to get some energy from the production of Diedre Alexander, who ended the half with 12 points to lead the Tigers scorers while Mcdonald continued to get it done for the Axewomen, ending the half with 20 points in a 52-31 Acadia halftime lead.
Acadia came out aggressively in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, feeding the ball into the paint with Alexandra Berry, becoming a huge presence inside. The Axewomen spoiled the Tigers senior night and came away with the 92-72 victory.
Mcdonald had a game high 27 points and four rebounds. Berry finished close behind her with 25 points and eight rebounds.
The Axewomen will wrap up their season on the road this weekend when they travel to Cape Breton for a four-point game Feb. 24. A win will give the Axewomen an 18-2 record, topping the record set by the 2011-2012 Axewomen who won the AUS championship with a 17-3 record.
Axemen
In the third meeting of the season, the Dalhousie Tigers picked up an 85-65 win against the host Acadia Axemen after losing the first two matchups in early November.
Axemen Nick De Palma, Ben Miller and Erik Nissen netted 11, 12 and 12 points respectively. Nissen pulled down eight boards and added four blocks.
The Axemen combined lightsout shooting with tough defence in the first quarter and held onto a lead throughout to take the 75-63 win in the second match between the Dalhousie Tigers and Axemen. The win gave the Axemen a 3-1 regular season win against the first-place Tigers.
The Axemen combined a strong interior presence of Nissen and Rhys Larry on the glass with Miller and De Palma continuing to shoot the lights out from deep.
The series of tough offensive sets continued for the Tigers to end the half, shooting a combined 35 per cent from the field through two quarters compared to the 62 per cent the Axemen put together.
Alex Carson led the Tigers in first half scoring with 13 points, including two shots from deep. Miller was perfect in the first half for the Axemen, going 5-5 from the field including 3-3 from long range for 14 points.
Miller ended up finishing with 14 points, six rebounds and five assists, going 3-4 from long range.
Axemen will finish their regular season with a four-point trip to Cape Breton Feb. 23.