For the first time in 20 years, the University of New Brunswick Reds are off to a national semi-final.
UNB pulled away in the second half and fed off a monster game from Atlantic University Sport second team all star Katie Butts to earn an 81-63 triumph over Ottawa’s Carleton University Ravens in quarter-final play.
The top eight teams in USPORTS nation are Universite de Laval in Quebec City to decision a Canadian champion.
Butts poured in 33 points on 10-for-15 efficiency from the field and collected 16 rebounds to spark UNB. Katie McAffee, making her second national appearance after playing as a rookie with Acadia University Axewomen, had 11 points.
Both Butts and McAffee are former members of the Maritime Women’s Basketball Association’s Fredericton Freeze.
UNB will now face University of Calgary Dinos in a Saturday semifinal at 4 p.m. (AST).
Calgary advanced with a 58-45 win over McGill University Martlets of Montreal.
The shocker of opening day was host and No. 8 seed Universite de Laval Rouge et Or toppling top seed Toronto Metropolitan University Bold, 57-54, winning the game on a three-pointer with 15 seconds left in the game.
Brinly Holt of Halifax had 13 points for Laval.
Ella McDonald and Jessica Keripe of Rothesay, NB, had six points apiece as starters for TMU. Keripe played in the MWBA for Saint John’s Port City Fog.
Laval will now face University of Saskatchewan Huskies in the other semifinal, that one going at 6 p.m. (AST) on Saturday. The Huskies eliminated University of British Columbia Thunderbirds, 71-55.
The opening round losing teams begin consolation round play today with McGill playing the Ravens and UBC meeting TMU.
– Katie Butts dominated for UNB during national quarter-final play Thursday. (USPORTS PHOTO)
