AUS Final: No. 5 Capers defeat Huskies to repeat as AUS champs

SYDNEY, NS - The top-seeded and CIS No. 5 ranked Cape Breton Capers defended their Subway AUS women's basketball championship Sunday by defeating the Saint Mary's Huskies 69-60 on their home floor at Sullivan Field House in Sydney, NS.

Alexander Keith's tournament MVP Kari Everett led the Capers with 23 points, eight rebounds and four assists, while reigning AUS MVP and CIS scoring leader Kelsey Hodgson added 21 points in the final.

The first place Capers improve to a perfect 13-0 on home court this season with the win over the third-seeded Huskies and finish with an overall mark of 21-1 heading into the CIS championship in two weeks. It is CBU's fourth AUS banner in seven years.

Saint Mary's, looking for its first AUS championship in 33 years, trailed for most of the contest before tying the game late in the third quarter thanks to AUS Rookie of the Year Justine Colley. She capped off a strong quarter of play by hitting a three-pointer to knot things up at 50-50 with 1:23 remaining in the period, the only quarter the Huskies outscored the Capers, 15-8.

Everett helped CBU pull away again early in the fourth quarter, hitting a pair of baskets to put the Capers up 54-50 and give the defending champs a lead they would not relinquish.

Karmen Brown, playing her final home game at the Sullivan Field house, added 11 points and four boards before fouling out in the fourth quarter to a standing ovation. Stephanie Toxopeus, a six-foot-three forward, was named the Subway Player of the Game after finishing with eight points and nine rebounds. 

Colley had 24 points for the Huskies while Kelsey Daley added 16 and Laure Pitfield 11.

The Capers made it to the final with a 61-56 decision over Dalhousie in the semifinals, while SMU advanced by defeating the second place Memorial Sea-Hawks 77-56 in their semifinal, with Colley scoring 38.

Brown, Hodgson, Everett from CBU along with SMU's Kelsey Daley and Justine Colley were named to the tournament all-star team.

CBU will head to the Canadian Interuniversity Sport Women's Basketball Championship at McMaster University in Hamilton, March 12-14. The Capers went 2-1 at nationals last year, finishing fifth.

2010 Subway Atlantic University Sport Championship at Cape Breton University:

Quarterfinals
February 26th - Acadia 63 vs. Saint Mary's 64
February 26th - Dalhousie 59 vs. StFX 52

Semifinals
February 27th - Dalhousie 56 vs. Cape Breton 61
February 27th - Saint Mary's 77 vs. Memorial 56

Championship Game
February 28th - Saint Mary's 60 vs. Cape Breton 69

Alexander Keith's Tournament MVP: Kari Everett, Cape Breton

Tournament All-Stars:
- Kari Evertt, Cape Breton
- Kelsey Hodgson, Cape Breton
- Justine Colley, Saint Mary's
- Kelsey Daley, Saint Mary's
- Karmen Brown, Cape Breton

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