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Hodgson's 28 points carries Capers into AUS title tilt CBU, Huskies to meet for title

Keley Hodgson

By MONTY MOSHER
thechronicleherald.ca
Kelsey Hodgson roared to life in the second half and carried her team into today's AUS women's basketball final in Sydney.

The two-time conference MVP and CIS scoring champion hit three three-pointers in a 17-point third quarter as her top-seeded Cape Breton Capers rallied from a halftime deficit to beat the Dalhousie Tigers 61-56 in Saturday's first semifinal at Sullivan Field House.

The fifth-year senior from Fredericton finished with 28 points, all but three in the second half.

"Big-time players show up at big-time moments and we needed her," said Cape Breton head coach Fabian McKenzie. "She certainly played well. There were other people around her, but Kelsey got hot. We got her the basketball and she did her thing."

The Tigers, 10-10 in the regular season and the fifth seed this weekend, fought to the finish and were even at 51-51 with six minutes to go until Hodgson made a three to open a lead the defending-champion Capers — 19-1 and unbeaten at home — wouldn't surrender.

Today's final is at 1 p.m. with the winner earning a berth in the CIS women's championship March 12-14 in Hamilton, Ont.

Dalhousie took advantage of some cold shooting from the host team for an 11-8 lead at the end of the first quarter.

April Scott made two quick buckets early in the second quarter as the Tigers expanded the lead to nine. CBU cut the Dalhousie lead to 27-24 at the half.

"The first half we talked about just managing the jitters," said McKenzie. "When you get the bye situation you always have that first half that's a bit wonky. We came out in the second half more relaxed."

Cape Breton got even in the third quarter on a Hodgson trey and a baseline drive from Kari Everett. Another Hodgson triple on the next trip had Cape Breton up for the first time 32-31.

Hodgson then exploded for another three and picked up two buckets off Dalhousie turnovers on the inbound pass for a 39-33 lead. Another outside shot for Hodgson had Cape Breton up 41-33.

Everett added 12 for the Capers, bidding for a fourth AUS banner since 2004. Rachael Harrison had 18, Scott 12 and Leah Girdwood 10 for the Tigers.

Huskies 77, Sea-Hawks 56: Rookie of the year Justine Colley, the future of the AUS, torched Memorial for 38 as third-seeded Saint Mary's set up a date with Cape Breton.

"She willed us to win," said SMU head coach Scott Munro. "She wasn't going to let us lose tonight. She put us on her back."

The Huskies built a comfortable lead in the first half and romped 23-10 in the fourth quarter.

The Huskies led 34-25 at the half with East Preston's Colley scoring 17 in the first 20 minutes. No. 2 Memorial had a first-round bye.

Laure Pitfield added 16 and Kelsey Daley 10 for SMU. Victoria Thistle had 19 for MUN.

SMU had to scrap their way into the semifinals with a 64-63 win over Acadia on Friday