Axewomen execute late, come away with 60-55 win over Panthers

By Thomas Becker

It was a close battle throughout, but the Acadia Axewomen got the better of the UPEI Panthers down the stretch as they ended the game on a 9-3 run to come away winners 60-55.

As she so often does, Haley McDonald delivered when her team needed her most. She scored seven of her game-high 15 points in the decisive run. Lizzie Iseyemi matched her teammate's production with 15 points. She also added 14 rebounds, three blocks and two steals to claim Player of the Game honours. Sarah Delorey also reached double figures with 10. 

"I think it was a good gritty win coming out of the break," Iseyemi said. "The game came down to who's outcompeting who and who can last longer in the end."

The Panthers, meanwhile, were limited to just one double-figure scorer in Lauren Rainford, who finished with 15 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, five steals, and two blocks.

After the Axewomen took a slim 5-4 lead, the Panthers countered with five straight points on a Grace Lancaster layup followed by a Sydney Cummins three-pointer, as they led 11-8 after 10 minutes of action. 

UPEI pushed their advantage to 17-11 thanks to the effort of the Rainford sisters, who combined to score the first six points of the second quarter. However, the Axewomen quickly erased the deficit with a 7-1 run to tie at 18.

Both teams traded a couple baskets before the Panthers went into the half up 23-22. Through 20 minutes of play, they held the high-powered Acadia offence to just 25 per cent from the field. Both Lauren and Aiden Rainford led the way with six points apiece, while Iseyemi had a team-high six for the Axewomen. 

Acadia opened the third on an 8-0 run to storm in front 30-23. Sandy Saunders was the catalyst as she scored five of those points. But a 7-0 run the other way evened the score again. Lancaster was in the middle of the action scoring five of those points. After three quarters, the score was tied at 38-38. 

Down 42-41 early in the fourth, Gamblin called a timeout to spark the offence, but it didn't help right away as Acadia scored four straight points from McDonald and Iseyemi to extend their lead to 46-41. 

Lauren scored four straight to make it a one-point game before both teams traded leads on three consecutive possessions. After Bowering's three-pointer at 1:26 gave UPEI the lead, Acadia pulled ahead by attacking the rim. McDonald converted an and-one and followed that up with four made free throws to open up a 58-52 lead.

"I feel like our defence picked up a lot in the second half and the way we were communicating with each other on the floor definitely helped a lot down the stretch," Iseyemi said.

Both teams are back at it again Saturday at 4 p.m.

Photo Credit: Janessa Hogan