Antigonish, N.S. - The StFX X-Women (3-12) earned a split in back-to-back games with the visiting UPEI Panthers (4-12) in AUS basketball action with a hard-fought 70-65 victory Saturday afternoon at the Oland Centre.
In the first quarter, the Panthers jumped to a 13-4 advantage after the opening five minutes. Anne Kiberd (Halifax, NS), with a pair of three-point shots, and veteran guard Katelynn Donahoe (Riverview, NB), with five consecutive points, sparked the early run.
First-year guard Marcy Robinson (Bastrop, LA) scored seven straight points, off the bench, to help close the gap for the X-Women.
The Panthers replied, led by Donahoe's 10 points, to take a 20-11 edge after the first quarter.
In the second quarter, UPEI took its largest lead - 26-13 - after Donahoe completed a rare four-point play; she hit the free throw after being fouled on her three-point make.
Led by Lindsay Lessard (Waterloo, ON), who scored six points in an 8-2 burst, the X-Women trimmed the Panther lead to 28-21. Lessard scored 12 opening-half points.
In the final minutes of the second quarter, the teams traded baskets, with the Panthers taking a 35-23 advantage at the intermission.
Sparked by senior leaders Lessard and Kolbi Roper (North Vancouver, BC), the X-Women outscored the Panthers 26-14 to tie the contest 49-49 after three quarters
Early in the period, the X-Women cut the lead to 37-29 when guard Carolyn Smith (Montreal, QC) made a floating pull-up jumper in the lane.
Before picking up her fourth foul midway through the third quarter, Roper scored six points in the X-Women's push.
On the strength of seven consecutive points from Lessard, along with a fast-break left-handed lay-up from freshman guard Chelsea Provo (East Preston, NS), StFX closed the gap to 45-44.
After back-to-back steals from Robinson, Lessard drained a deep two-point shot to give the X-Women a 46-45 edge.
After another Robinson swipe, she fed Provo, who finished with a lay-up and drew the Panther foul. She swished the free throw to make it 49-45.
UPEI scored the final four points of the third quarter to tie the contest 49-49.
In the fourth quarter, the teams battled, trading baskets in the first five minutes.
With three minutes remaining in regulation, the sides were deadlocked 59-59.
Robinson kept the score tied with under two minutes remaining, when she blocked a Tamara Tompkins shot (Centreville, NB) underneath, after the Panther guard grabbed an offensive rebound.
With 90 seconds left, Donahoe sank two foul shots to give UPEI the edge, but Lessard replied with a twirling drive to the basket. The game was tied 61-61 heading to the final minute.
Off an X-Women defensive stand, Provo nailed a deep three-pointer to give the home side a 64-61 advantage, one they would not relinquish.
After Lessard hit two free throws to extend the edge to 66-61, Kiberd trimmed the lead to three with a drive to the hoop.
In the final seconds, the X-Women were on target with their foul shots, including six straight by Lessard, which helped seal the deal.
Lessard, with a game-high 33 points, including 22 in the second half, was named the Subway player of the game. She added five rebounds, five assists and two steals.
Off the bench, Provo and Robinson scored nine and eight points, respectively. Provo also chipped in three rebounds and four assists, while Robinson garnered three rebounds, four steals and one assist.
Donahoe, the Panther player of the game, meshed a team-high 20 points, while adding nine rebounds, seven assists and three steals.
Kiberd, with 18, McLaughlin (18) and Tompkins (10) also hit double digits in scoring.
McLaughlin competed the double-double with 10 rebounds.
The X-Women will be back in action Tuesday, Feb. 9, when they host the rival Saint Mary's Huskies in a 6 p.m. tip-off at Oland Centre.
The Panthers will return to the court Saturday, Feb. 13, when the Memorial SeaHawks visit Charlottetown. Game time is 6 p.m.
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