The UNB Saint John women’s Seawolves basketball team was looking to complete a trifecta in the wins category at this weekend’s 2015 CAN-AM Classic. But one of the visiting American teams, the University of Maine at Fort Kent Bengals stopped the howling Seawolves in their tracks.
From the get-go in the first quarter, the Seawolves started strong, and seemed as if they would be a match for the Bengals, who were looking for their second win of the tournament.
Earlier in the day, on short notice, the women’s Seawolves stood in and played for the Crandall University Chargers women’s team who were unable to travel to Saint John from Moncton due to the weather conditions to play against the University of Maine at Presque-Isle Owls. The Seawolves beat the Owls 54-44.
As the end of the first quarter neared against the Bengals, the Seawolves’ tiredness started to become more evident, though it was not exaggerated on the scoreboard.
This was reflected in the statistics as the Bengals made 38.8% of all field goal attempts and the Seawolves made 30.6% of all field goal attempts.
But it was the eleven more points the Bengals got in the first half that sealed the nail in the coffin for the Seawolves who very nearly matched the Bengals points for in the second half.
This point disparity by the end was to large to mount a full comeback, leaving the Seawolves 15 points behind the Bengals to loose 71-56.
For the third time this weekend, Seawolves fifth year veteran Christie Van Steeg led the team in points, tallying 18 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 blocks.
This time however, Seawolves head coach Kevin Munro decided to award the player of the game to second year player Jamie Kelly, who worked hard in her 31:25 of game time. She ended the game with 3 points and 3 offensive rebounds.
Bengals’ player of the game Samantha Carapellucci was noticeably the best player on the court, and notched 24 points, 13 rebounds (6 offensive and 7 defensive), and was 80% from the free throw line.
This game concluded the 2015 CAN-AM Classic for the women’s Seawolves and Bengals. The tournament shifts back to the United States next year, where the Seawolves will travel to the University of Maine at Presque Isle in January 2016.
