Kobayashi pours in career-high 28 points in Huskies 69-48 win over Panthers

HALIFAX, NS – Saint Mary's guard Aki Kobayashi scored a career high 28 points, leading the U SPORTS #3 ranked Huskies to a 69-48 win over the UPEI Panthers in Atlantic University Sport women's basketball action on Friday night at the Homburg Centre.

The Huskies got off to a strong start, with back-to-back lay-ins from forward Chloe Wilson (Dartmouth, NS) opening up a 4-0 lead. The Panthers responded with three-pointers from guards Naki Alonzo (Markham, ON) and Devon Lawlor (Millcove, PEI), but Huskies guard Aki Kobayashi (Osaka, Japan) answered with a three of her own, on her way to 11 first quarter points, and the Huskies took a 22-8 lead after 10 minutes of play.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Ali Kobayashi scores five of her 15 first half points! Huskies lead the Panthers 34-22 at the half!

Watch live: https://t.co/e2uQYuGyVv pic.twitter.com/n2s3Us7V2F

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) January 10, 2025

Kobayashi continued her scoring in the second quarter, dropping a put-back to extend the lead to 26-10, but the Panthers cut into the lead, with guard Samantha Zoffranieri (Brampton, ON) hitting a three-pointer to cap off a 11-2 run and cut the lead to 28-21 midway through the second quarter.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Aki Kobayashi with a put-back lay-in to extend the Huskies lead! pic.twitter.com/6pa3Q2zcXo

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) January 11, 2025

But the Huskies seniors closed the quarter strong, with guard Clara Gascoigne (Dartmouth, NS) and forward Lucina Beaumont (Fredericton, NB) scoring the final six points of the frame, giving the Huskies a 34-22 lead at the half.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Clara Gascoigne hits a tough step-back to give the Huskies a 34-22 lead at the half! pic.twitter.com/18CuybI0cs

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) January 11, 2025

The third quarter began with a jump shot from Panthers guard Lauren Rainford (Toronto, ON), before the Huskies went on another run, with a Lucy Beaumont three-pointer extending the lead to 52-26. Devon Lawlor hit a three in the final seconds of the third quarter to cut the Huskies lead to 56-33.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Aki Kobayashi can't stop scoring! She has a career high 24 points as the Huskies open up a 56-33 lead through three quarters! pic.twitter.com/T3FuaQH760

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) January 11, 2025

Lawlor continued her hot shooting into the fourth quarter, hitting back-to-back three-pointers to cut the lead to 56-41, but Kobayashi responded with four straight points. With the game out of reach, the Huskies got some solid contributions off their bench with guard Molly Healy (St. John's, NL) dropping five of the Huskies 14 bench points on the night, helping the team seal a 69-48 victory.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

First year Molly Healy beats the third quarter buzzer, helping the Huskies improve to an @AUS_SUA leading 10-0 with a 69-48 win over the Panthers! pic.twitter.com/aNpwgbdVDe

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) January 11, 2025

Huskies guard Aki Kobayashi was named Player of the Game with a career-high 28 points on 11/16 shooting, along with four rebounds, one assist and one block. Lucina Beaumont chipped in 11 points and nine rebounds, and Clara Gascoigne stuffed the stat-sheet with 10 points, six steals, four rebounds and three assists.

The Panthers were led by guard Devon Lawlor who hit four three-pointers for a team-high 12 points, while Lauren Rainford added 10 points and seven rebounds.

The Huskies win improves their record to a league-leading 10-0 on the season, while the Panthers drop to 6-4. The two teams will meet again on Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Homburg Centre. GET TICKETS

Recap by Allan April / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics
Photos by Mona Ghiz / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics