Armstrong’s 29 points lead Huskies to 83-65 season-opening win over Capers

HALIFAX, NS - Saint Mary's guard Lauren Armstrong scored 29 points in her Huskies debut, as the Huskies defeated the Cape Breton Capers 83-65 in Atlantic University Sport women's basketball action on Saturday afternoon at the Homburg Centre in Halifax.

Capers opened the game on a 12-4 run, led by eight points including a pair of three-pointers from guard Alicia Bowering (Orangeville, ON). But the Huskies cut into the lead, led by contributions off the bench from forward Jordaine Francis (Calgary, AB) and guard Sophia Das (Halifax, NS), who combined for six first quarter points.

Wing Angong Jacob (Calgary, AB) hit a jump shot with 10 seconds remaining in the quarter, cutting the Capers lead to 17-14 at the end of the first.

The Huskies continued to chip away at the Capers lead, with wing Kalli Georgoulias (Mississauga, ON) hitting a three-pointer, before guard Lauren Armstrong (Canberra, Australia) went on a personal 6-0 scoring run to give the Huskies a 25-23 advantage.

Capers guard Amanda Cruickshank was able to slash the lane on her way to two of her nine first half points, tying the game at 29-29. But the Huskies finished the quarter on a 17-5 run, led by eight points from Armstrong and five from Sophia Das, as the Huskies went into the half with a 46-34 lead.

Cruickshank drove to the hoop to cut the lead to 46-36, but over the next four minutes, the Huskies went on a 13-0 run, led by seven points from Lauren Armstrong, and three assists from point guard Molly Healy (St. John's, NL).

The Huskies outscored the Capers 22-14 in the third quarter, led by eight points from Armstrong, and took a 68-48 lead into the fourth.

The fourth quarter was the Angong Jacob show, as the Huskies wing shot a flawless three of three on three-pointers in the frame, including two off of assists from Molly Healy, scoring nine of the Huskies 15 fourth quarter points, and helping Saint Mary's secure the 83-65 season-opening win.

Lauren Armstrong was named Player of the Game for the Huskies, stuffing the stat sheet with 29 points, seven rebounds, three assists, two blocks and one steal. Angong Jacob chipped in 15 points - 13 coming in the second half - and added three steals. Sophia Das added 11 points and seven rebounds off the Huskies bench, while Molly Healy recorded a game-high eight assists to go with seven points.

The Capers were led by a 23-point, 10-rebound double-double from guard Amanda Cruickshank, while Alicia Bowering made four threes on her way to 14 points.

The Huskies record is 1-0, while the Capers drop to 0-1. The two teams will meet again on Sunday, Oct. 25, at 12 p.m. at the Homburg Centre. GET TICKETS

Recap by Allan April / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics
Photos by Eduardo Ibarra / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics