Reds edge Tigers 75-71

(FREDERICTON, NB) Mikaela Dodig (Bolton, ON) hit a crucial three-pointer to give the UNB Reds the lead in the final minute and they wouldn't look back as they defeated the Dalhousie Tigers 75-71 in their home-opener on Friday. 

"I got a great pass from Eva (Tumwine) and my team did all the hard work, I just made the shot," said Dodig. "I was lucky that it went in and it gave us some momentum moving forward." 

The game was the first of back-to-back weekend games between the two teams. 

The Reds improve to 3-0 while the Tigers drop to 0-3. 

Dodig was named Subway Player of the Game with a 15-point effort. 

Grace Simpson (Fredericton, NB) also had 15 for the Reds, along with 4 rebounds. 

Robertha Charles (Montreal, QC) had a similar effort, with 15 points and 5 rebounds for the Tigers. 

The Reds came out on the strong end of a back and forth first quarter with a 20-17 lead. 

Both teams would continue to match each other in the second with the Tigers managing to tie the game 37-37 at halftime. 

Dalhousie's Charles and UNB's Jane Boyle (Halifax, NS) each led their respective teams with 10 points in the first half. 

The Tigers would put in their strongest play in the third quarter to lead 55-49 with 15 minutes to play. 

With 1:51 to play the game was tied 67-67 after multiple lead changes in the fourth. Dodig would make the crucial three with 1:01 left to give the Reds their final push to win the game. 

"Big thing was that we needed to take responsibility defensively," said Dodig. "They beat us 1-on-1 and once we started to get back to the way we play defense then things started to turn out better." 

The two teams face each other again Saturday. Game time is 2:00pm.