Acadia Athletics in full swing

AUS regular seasons winding down for Axewomen, Axemen

Acadia Axemen centre Thomas MacDonald takes a shot over Saint Mary’s Huskies forward Jace Colley during Atlantic University Sport basketball action Feb. 27 in Wolfville. The Huskies completed the weekend sweep with a 76-74 victory after winning 93-68 in Halifax on Feb. 25. Shae Linton-Brown led the Huskies with 20 points on Feb. 27. Rowan Power led the Axemen with 17 points and nine rebounds while Alex Muise had 17 points and six boards. Acadia led 25-11 after the first quarter and 44-31 at the half but was outscored 26-13 in the third quarter to head to the final 10 minutes tied 57-57. Saint Mary’s never trailed by more than one point in the first game. They held quarter leads of 23-10, 44-31 and 69-42. Jayrell Diggs had 17 points off the bench for the Huskies while Colley had 15 points and 10 rebounds. Jack Tilley had 14 points for Acadia followed by Muise with 13 and MacDonald with 12. Saint Mary’s improved to 7-5 while Acadia dropped its eighth straight game to fall to 1-11. The Axemen host first-place Dalhousie (8-2) March 4 and travel to Charlottetown to play the UPEI Panthers (6-4) on March 5. Both games begin at 8 p.m.

Acadia Axemen forward Keegan Stevenson, centre, tries to get away from the checks of UNB Reds teammates Benjamin Gagne, left, and Ross MacDougall during Atlantic University Sport hockey action Feb. 25 in Wolfville. The Axemen lost

3-2 in a shootout to the conference-leading Reds (19-3-0-0). MacDougall, a former Axeman, was the lone shooter to score in the shootout. Stevenson and Peyton Hoyt scored first period goals, but the visitors tied it in the second period behind goals from Jason Willms and Mark Rassell. Nick Deakin-Poot and Jordy Stallard drew assists for the Axemen. Rylan Parenteau made 15 saves in regulation and overtime and three more in the shootout for the victory while Paddock stopped 41 shots on the night. The Axemen completed the three-point weekend by doubling Moncton 6-3 on Feb. 26. Johnny Corneil had three goals and an assist in the victory while Stevenson scored a pair and Merrick Rippon rounded out the scoring. Jack Flaman, Orlando Mainolfi and Deakin-Poot each had two assists while singles went to Hoyt, Eric Henderson and Stallard.

Denis Toner, Olivier-Luc Hache and Vincent Deslauriers scored for Moncton. Paddock made 32 saves for the victory while Etienne Montpetit stopped 30 shots in the loss. The Axemen held 2-1 and 5-1 period leads. Acadia improved to 7-13-0-1, three points up on last-place Moncton (5-15-1-1). The Axemen travelled to Halifax to play the Saint Mary’s Huskies on March 2. Results were unavailable at press time. They complete the regular March 5 by hosting the UPEI Panthers at 7 p.m.

Acadia Axewomen wing Elizabeth Iseyemi drives into the paint for a shot over Saint Mary’s Huskies forward Lucy Beaumont Feb. 27 at Stu Aberdeen Court in Wolfville. Clara Gascoigne had a game-high 22 points as the Huskies defeated the Axewomen 76-66. Beaumont added 18 points while Alaina McMillan had 16. Sandy Saunders and Samantha Russell each scored 14 points for the Axewomen while Jayda Veinot had 12 and Sarah Delorey 10 points and nine rebounds. Saint Mary’s held 22-15, 41-28 and 64-48 quarter leads to earn the weekend split. Veinot had 24 points and 13 rebounds while Iseyemi chipped in 15 points and 11 boards as Acadia defeated Saint Mary’s 82-73 Feb. 25 in Halifax. McMillan scored 23 points for the home side while Gascoigne chipped in 19. Saint Mary’s led 15-10 after the first quarter but trailed 33-30 at the half and 56-50 heading to the fourth quarter. The Axemen and Memorial are tied for second place with 22 points with 8-4 records while the Huskies (8-4) are two points back in fourth place. Acadia hosts last-place Dalhousie (0-10) March 4 and go to Charlottetown to meet the first-place UPEI Panthers (9-0) March 5. Both games tip-off at 6 p.m.

PETER OLESKEVICH • ACADIA ATHLETICS Acadia Axewomen Deborah Nash passes the ball to a teammate during Atlantic University Sport volleyball action against the Saint Mary’s Huskies Feb. 26 in Wolfville. The Axewomen won the match 3-2 (20-25, 24-26, 25-20, 25-22, 15-11). Taylor Collombin had 22 kills for the home side while Rebecca Dorsey had 16 digs and Erica Fisher three blocks. Acadia also defeated Dalhousie 3-2 (19-25, 25-22, 26-28, 25-21, 15-12) on Feb. 25. Collombin had 25 kills and two blocks while Dorsey had 28 digs. First-place Acadia (9-3) hosted second-place Saint Mary’s (9-4) March 2. Results were unavailable at press time. The Axewomen complete the regular season on the road at UNB (7-5) on March 5 and 6.

JASON MALLOY Acadia Axewomen wing Sophie Atkinson, right, dives for a loose ball after winning the race with Saint Mary’s Huskies guard Alaina McMillan during the Feb. 27 Atlantic University Sport basketball game in Wolfville. Atkinson, a second-year player from Yarmouth, had four rebounds and two assists in the game. She had 12 points and five boards in the Feb. 25 win at Saint Mary’s.