ANTIGONISH, NS - The UPEI Panthers came out strong early and held on for an exciting 51-48 win over the STFX X-Women in AUS basketball action Saturday evening on Coach K Court. With the win, the Panthers snapped a four-game losing streak while putting an end to a three-game win streak for the X-Women. The win also pulled the Panthers ahead of the X-Women in the AUS standings.

UPEI's Grace Lancaster (Fall River, NS) was named player of the game, with 15 points, five rebounds and two assists. Sydney Cummins (Wolfville, NS) had eight points and seven rebounds for the Panthers, with Samantha Zoffranieri (Brampton, ON) adding seven points and seven rebounds. 

Leading the way for the X-Women was Katie Upham (North River, NS), with 11 points and five assists, while Shannon Neita (Toronto, ON) had 9 points and 11 rebounds, with Elizabeth Kennedy (Richmond, BC) scoring nine points off the bench.

The Panthers came out to a lead early, running the floor and controlling the boards in the first quarter, with a 13-7 rebound advantage. UPEI also made all five of their free throws in the first 10 minutes, giving them an 18-9 lead.

In the second quarter, Neita opened the scoring with a jump shot, but Lancaster replied for the Panthers shortly thereafter. The Panthers went on a five-point run midway through the quarter, increasing their lead to 13 points. A pair of threes from the home team cut into the lead, but UPEI replied with one of their own. The Panthers led 33-21 at the end of the half, with UPEI leading 18-12 in defensive rebounds.

The teams exchanged scores early in the third, but UPEI continued their strong play. The X-Women continued to chip away though, and a three pointer late from Upham made it 46-38 game going into the final quarter.

The X-Women surge continued in the final quarter, and they made it a four-point game with about four minutes left to play. Stifling defence by the home team continued, with the Panthers only managing three points in the first seven minutes of the quarter. It was a three-point game with 15 seconds to go, but the Panthers fended off the X-Women comeback attempt and held on for the win.

The teams will square off again on Sunday afternoon, for a 2 p.m. match up at Coach K Court.

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Recap courtesy Matt Draper, STFX Athletics