Panthers score road victory over Capers

SYDNEY, NS—The UPEI Panthers (10-10) scored a 75-64 victory over the Cape Breton University (CBU) Capers (7-12) in Atlantic University Sport (AUS) women's basketball action on Friday evening at Sullivan Fieldhouse.

In the home finale for the Capers, the Panthers jumped to a quick 6-0 edge in the first quarter on consecutive three-pointers from Lauren Rainford (Toronto, ON) and Grace Lancaster (Fall River, NS).  

Junior forward Hailey MacLeod (Marion Bridge, NS) answered, with a shot from downtown, to open the scoring for the Capers.  

The Panthers replied with eight straight points, capped by a mid-range jumped from Aiden Rainford (Toronto, ON) to take a 14-3 lead. 

After a basket from Devon Lawlor (Millcove, PEI), UPEI took their largest lead at the point – 19-4. 

Sparked by the play of Darah Fleurgin (Montreal, QC), off the bench, CBU finished the first quarter with an 11-4 spurt and trailed 23-15. 

On the first shot of the second quarter, Sydney Cummins (Wolfville, NS) regained the Panthers double-digit edge with a three-pointer to make it 26-15.  

The Capers trimmed the deficit with hoops from Ajda Licina (Podgorica, Montenegra) and Hans Sarah Bailly (Montreal, QC), but a drive to the tin by Cummins restored the double-figure advantage for the Panthers, at 30-19. 

On a three-pointer from Hannah Smith (Bedford, NS) and lay-up from Fleurgin, CBU sliced the UPEI edge to 36-29. 

Licina cut the gap to six (38-32), but Lancaster replied – from downtown – on the ensuing offensive trip for the Panthers to widen the lead to nine points, once again. 

UPEI led 41-34 at halftime. 

In the third quarter, the Capers came out firing and pulled within two points – at 43-41 – after back-to-back baskets from MacLeod and Amanda Cruickshank (Montreal, QC). 

The Panthers replied with eight consecutive points – keyed by Lauren Rainford – to regain a double-digit edge at 51-41. 

CBU bounced back, sparked by a pair of hoops from Kiyara Letlow (Toronto, ON), to make it 54-50 late in the third quarter. 

The Panthers led 58-52 heading to the fourth quarter. 

In the final stanza, on the strength of five consecutive points from Lauren Rainford, UPEI led 68-57. 

The Capers pulled within six – at 68-62 – on baskets from MacLeod and Fleurgin, but the Panthers regained their double-digit lead on a three-pointer from Deborah Aboagye (Montreal, QC) to make it 73-62. 

UPEI secured the victory down the stretch, as CBU ran out of time for one final rally. 

The Capers never led in the contest. 

Lauren Rainford led the Panthers with a game-high 30 points, while adding four rebounds, three assists and three steals. 

Lancaster and Aiden Rainford also scored in double digits, with 11 and 10 points, respectively. 

For the Capers, Letlow and MacLeod fashioned double-doubles; Letlow finishing with 14 points, 17 rebounds and three assists, while MacLeod – in her final game at Sullivan Fieldhouse – added 11 points and five rebounds. 

Off the bench, Fleurgin also collected a double-double, including a team-high 15 points, along with 13 rebounds, two blocks, two assists and one steal. 

Lauren Rainford and MacLeod were named the Chartwells player of the game for their teams.

RECAP BY: Corey LeBlanc, CBU Sports Information / PHOTOS BY: Vaughan Merchant