Panthers down X-Women 55-47

ANTIGONISH, NS—The UPEI Panthers put on a defensive display in a tight 55-47 win over the STFX X-Women in AUS basketball action on Saturday evening in Antigonish. UPEI's player of the game Grace Lancaster (Fall River, NS) lead the way for the 5-3 Panthers with 18 points and eight rebounds, while rookie Ayla White (Ancaster, ON) was named Gabriel Pizza player of the game for the X-Women with 18 points, three rebounds, and an assist.  

Lauren Rainford (Toronto, ON) put the Panthers on the board first and helped put the visitors up early, but Reegan Bell's (Perth, ON) eight points for the X-Women in the first 10 minutes kept the score close. A Shannon Neita (Toronto, ON) layup tied the game at 17 going into the first break.

The X-Women started the second quarter with some shut down defense, helping them to a 7-1 run before the Panthers called a time-out with three minutes gone. The home team lead by as many as eight until a Lancaster three-pointer helped get the Panthers back on the scoreboard. The teams traded buckets late in the quarter, and the X-Women lead 33-26 at halftime.

The Panthers scored the first six points of the third quarter and limited the X-Women to five points in the stanza. The X-Women defense held out and maintained a four-point lead heading into the final 10 minutes. UPEI went on an 14-3 run in the first six minutes of the final quarter. The X-Women cut the lead to five points with a minute to go, but the Panthers held on for the victory.

Karla Benitez had a solid game for the Panthers, with 10 rebounds, seven assists, and eight points, while Neita finished up with nine rebounds, two steals, and four points for the X-Women. 

The X-Women return to the hardcourt next week when they visit the Saint Mary's Huskies on Wednesday, November 27, for a 6 p.m. matchup. The Panthers close out the first half of the season on the road next Friday, November 29, when they take on the UNB REDS at 6 p.m.

RECAP BY: Matt Draper, STFX Athletics / PHOTOS BY: Bryan Kennedy