The 1950-51 women’s varsity basketball team under the direction of newly-appointed coach, Margaret Harrington, captured the Nova Scotia and Maritime Intercollegiate titles by sweeping aside determined efforts by Dalhousie and Mount Allison.
In earlier season play, the Axettes engaged in a home-and-home series against Dalhousie, resulting in a total point victory for the Acadia squad. In exhibition tilts against the Halifax Tartans and the St. Anne Grads, the Harrington-directed Axettes bowed to very strong and experienced opponents.
In the opening game of the provincial intercollegiate finals against Dalhousie, the Axettes performing at Memorial Gymnasium posted a 33-22 victory. Leading 12-8 at half time, the Acadia team was led offensively by Carol Zinck and rookie Eva Forbes. In the second half of the contest, Joan Sutherland combined with Zinck, the game’s top scorer, to clinch the victory. Entering the concluding title with a ten-point margin, the Axettes were outplayed by the city girls in the finale, dropping a 27-21 decision. Overall, however, the Axettes persevered for a total-point, 53-49, triumph.
Among the luminaries for the newly-crowned provincial champs that day were Carol Zinck, Barb Smith, Joan Sutherland, Norma Pickle and Beth Brinton.
In the opening contest against perennial rivals, Mount Allison, for the Maritime Intercollegiate crown, the Axettes built up a 22-10 lead in the first half. Being outscored, 8-5, in the second half, the Harrington-guided hoopsters concluded the contest with a 27- 18 victory.
Leading the Nova Scotia champions to victory that day were Eva Forbes and Barb Smith with 11 and 9 points respectively. Concluding the series at the more familiar surroundings of Memorial Gymnasium, the Axettes won the tri-province crown by recording a 30-19 game victory and an overall point total triumph of 57-37. Team captain Beth Brinton led the way with early-game baskets while Joan Sutherland, Eva Forbes and Barb Smith, always consistent scorers, shared the limelight with such capable performers as Joan MacLaughlin, Janet MacGray, Joan Fraser, Carol Zinck, Norma Pickle and Marg MacKay. Not to be forgotten, of course, was the masterful coaching performance by Margaret Harrington and the endless tasks successfully completed by manager P. MacLean.
Following the contest captain Beth Brinton accepted the recently-donated Jeannie W. Leslie Trophy, symbolic of Maritime supremacy.
For such outstanding performers as Beth Brinton and Barb Smith this victory represented their second such triumph. They, of course, had been valuable members of the ’48-’49 team that won provincial and Maritime Intercollegiate honours. Individually during the season, newcomer Eva Forbes led in scoring with a total of 53 points, while Carol Zinck and Joan Sutherland were close behind, with 47 and 45 respectively.
What an honour it is to welcome back to Acadia for induction to the Hall of Fame, members of the ’50-’51 championship basketball squad: indeed, the last Acadia winners of the coveted Leslie Trophy.
