Halifax, NS – The Acadia Axewomen are champions once again for the third time in four seasons.
The Acadia Axewomen defeated the Cape Breton Capers in a 71-65 comeback victory with 34 points from Jayda Veinot at the Scotiabank Centre to win the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) Championship on Sunday.
The Axewomen were down 36-22 at halftime as Kiyara Letlow was dominant in the half, putting in 11 points and 14 rebounds. However, the Axewomen of the second half was a much different team. They came out in the third quarter with energy outscoring CBU 19-14.
Then in the fourth quarter, AUS Most Valuable Player (MVP), Veinot, scored 14 of her 34 points to help outscore CBU 30-15 in the quarter. Veinot said the second half was all about composure as Acadia came out in the first half and were everywhere mentally and physically as she took home the tournament’s MVP award.
“In the second half, we just locked into our scout and how we play basketball, and it’s what gave us the chip,” Veinot said.
After Veinot’s struggles in the first half, head coach Len Harvey said he knew Veinot’s second-half explosion would happen.
“We were just waiting and waiting, waiting, trying to get her some shots that she’d feel comfortable with; once she got going, it was MVP,” Harvey said.
Elizabeth Iseyemi said Harvey was disappointed the team came out playing softly at halftime. The team was panicking, said Harvey, as the Axewomen are a young team.
CBU lost momentum in the second half, and with Letlow picking up her third foul, she had to sit for the majority of the third quarter.
“I think our momentum swung in the third; there were a lot of iffy calls. I think we kind of lost the ball, and we just lost the hang of it there,” Letlow said.
CBU coach Doug Connors said his team showed their youth. The Capers are a young team with the Rookie of the Year, Letlow, and six other players in their first year. CBU could be a threat for several years with this young squad. “I think this will be a recurring theme with us being here in the finals. But I think next time, it’s going to end a lot differently,” Letlow said.
With Letlow making a dominant finals run in her rookie season, Harvey said Letlow is a monster.
“I almost feel like I should retire when I’m looking at she’s a freshman,” Harvey said.
Cover Photo: @AcadiaAthletics/Twitter