Panthers get the best of the Reds on Saturday night

(FREDERICTON, NB) Jenna Mae Ellsworth (Charlottetown, PE) dropped 28 points and three rebounds as the UPEI Panthers overwhelmed the UNB Reds offensively in a 76-63 win on Saturday.

"I think we played really well tonight, we worked well as a team, we were driving and kicking and we were getting open shots," said Ellsworth. "We kept our composure, we had some key players in foul trouble early and we just kept it going and played through it."

Ellsworth was named Subway Player of the Game.

UPEI improves to 6-1 on the season while UNB drops to 4-3.

This game was the first 4-point game this season for both teams.

The Reds came out of an even first quarter with a 21-18 lead.

UPEI would stifle the Reds offence and outscore them 18-8 in the second, and lead 36-27 at halftime.

"We didn't compete even close to hard enough to have success against any team in our conference let alone the team predicted to win it," said Reds head coach Jeff Speedy.

The Panthers offensive pressure would only grow in the third quarter, outscoring the Reds 26-11 to go up 62-40 heading into the fourth.

The Reds would finish strong, but could not overcome the deficit.

Mikaela Dodig (Bolton, ON) led the Reds with 19 points and seven rebounds, while Jane Boyle (Halifax, NS) had 13 points and 12 rebounds.

"We are not very happy with that loss, we just broke down a bit defensively and weren't executing on offence as well, and unfortunately we just couldn't get out of it," said Dodig.

Karle Yepez (Quito, Ecuador) had 12 points and four rebounds, and Jane McLaughlin (Fortune, PE) added 11 points for the Panthers.

Both teams now enter their mid-season break.

Next game for the Reds is a trip to Newfoundland and Labrador for a pair of early January games against the Memorial Sea-Hawks.

The Panthers host the Cape Breton Capers.

RECAP BY: Jonathon James/for UNB Athletics

PHOTOS BY: Lauren Tidd/for UNB Athletics