Panthers cruise to victory over Capers

SYDNEY, NS—Led by Subway player of the game Karla Yepez (Quito, Ecuador), the UPEI Panthers scored a wire-to-wire 66-43 victory over the Cape Breton University (CBU) Capers in Atlantic University Sport (AUS) women's basketball action on Friday evening at Sullivan Fieldhouse.

The Panthers – who never trailed in the contest – jumped to an early double-digit advantage, with an interior basket from first-year forward Aiden Rainford (Toronto, ON) giving them a 10-0 lead midway through the first quarter. 

Trailing 14-0, with three minutes remaining in the opening stanza, the Capers scored their first point on a Hannah Smith (Bedford, NS) foul shot. 

CBU ended the first quarter on a mini 7-5 run to slice UPEI's lead to 19-7. 

Yepez, a veteran forward, drained a three-pointer in the opening seconds of the second quarter to give the Panthers a 22-7 edge. 

By the three-minute mark – on the strength of a shot from beyond the arc by fifth-year guard MacKenzee Ryan – the Capers narrowed the deficit to 22-12. 

Over the next five minutes, the Panther regained control of the match-up; fashioning a 9-0 spurt to give the visitors their largest lead at 31-12. Sydney Cummins (Wolfville, NS) keyed the burst with four consecutive points. 

Sophomore forward Eirin Vreim Holm (Oslo, Norway) gave the hometown crowd something to cheer for with a corner three-pointer in the final minute before halftime. 

Nevertheless, the Panthers took a 35-17 advantage to the locker room. 

In the first half, the Caper made only five baskets – shooting 16.1 per cent – while committing 12 turnovers versus a strong Panther defense. 

In the third quarter, UPEI came out determined to expand their lead, riding a 12-3 run to a 47-20 lead with six minutes remaining. As part of that start, Yepez nailed three free throws after being fouled on a three-point attempt. 

Trailing 51-23 in the final couple of minutes of the period, guards Leandra Hersey (Quispamsis, NB) and Chermensa van la Parra (Rotterdam, Netherlands) keyed a 10-6 run. But, despite that effort, UPEI headed to the fourth quarter with 56-33 lead. 

With an early 8-2 spurt – which included an offensive rebound and basket from Hailey MacLeod (Marion Bridge, NS) and a Hersey three-pointer – the Capers cut the deficit to 58-41, and the Panthers took a timeout. 

The Panthers – led by six consecutive points from all-star guard Lauren Rainford (Toronto, ON) – answered and extended their edge to 64-41. 

Down the stretch, the sides exchanged hoops as the Panthers cruised to the win. 

Yepez meshed a game-high 17 points, while fashioning a double-double with 10 rebounds. She added three assists.  

Cummins – with 13 points and 11 rebounds – also chipped in a double-double, while Lauren Rainford contributed 15 points, five assists and three rebounds.  

The lone Caper who scored in double digits – van la Parra – had 13 points, while adding six rebounds and three assists. 

Kiyara Letlow (Toronto, ON) added a game-best 18 rebounds.  

The home game also marked CBU's annual Shoot for the Cure breast cancer fundraising initiative, with the Capers donning pink uniforms for the occasion. 

The teams will be back in action tomorrow (Feb. 11) – at 2 p.m. – at Sullivan Fieldhouse on the CBU campus.

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