Four starters finish in double figures, as Panthers cruise past Memorial 80-57

By Thomas Becker

UPEI Panthers fans had a lot to cheer for Saturday night. 

Not only did they finally get a chance to show their appreciation for the women's basketball team and everything they accomplished in 2019-20, but they also got to watch them open the season with a convincing 80-57 win over the Memorial Sea-Hawks.

Following a season in which she was named the U SPORTS Player of the Year, Jenna Mae Ellsworth nearly posted a triple-double as an encore performance, as she finished with 15 points, eight rebounds, six assists and four steals.

Reese Baxendale led all scorers with 18 points to go along with four assists, while sharpshooting rookie Alicia Bowering connected on 4-of-10 threes and finished with 14 points. Lauren Rainford did a bit of everything and recorded 11 points and four assists to go along with two steals and two blocks on the defensive end. 

Panthers head coach Matt Gamblin spoke after the game about his experienced starting lineup and how it helped them handle the pressure of an emotional night. 

"Having that veteran presence makes a huge difference in calming things down and setting the tone." 

But it was Memorial who jumped out in front first. UPEI responded with 10 of the next 13 points as they pulled ahead 13-10 thanks to some timely shooting from Baxendale, who scored nine of her 18 points in the first. The Panthers carried that momentum the rest of the quarter, where they led 21-15. 

Devon Lawlor came off the bench in her first taste AUS action and found her three-point stroke as she connected on a pair of triples to extend UPEI's lead to 10. As a unit, the bench scored 16 points and provided a spark Gamblin needed at times. 

"We have skilled players on the bench who just need to gain the confidence to execute," he said. "They'll get put in good positions to succeed and they just need to do what we do every day."

After Carolina Del Santo made it a 13-point game on a mid-range jumper, the Sea-Hawks responded with five straight points from Rebecka Ekström and Emma Power which cut the deficit to 37-29. However, Bowering ended that run in the final moments of the half when she connected on her second of four triples to send the Panthers into the break ahead 40-29. 

UPEI attempted 40 three-pointers on the night, but it was drives to basket that helped them pull away from their opponent. Rainford got it started early in third with back-to-back layups before Ellsworth and Del Santo added two more to push the lead to 51-33. 

Looking to put the game away early in the fourth, Ellsworth went to work and scored the team's first five points which made it a 19-point game. The Panthers heated up from beyond the arc again as Bowering and Grace Lancaster connected on two each, sealing the 80-57 win. 

After the game, Ellsworth said she was pleased with what she saw from her younger teammates in their debut. 

"There's still a lot of learning to do, but it's great to see these younger players step up and it'll just become more and more common as they get in the swing of things." 

The Panthers face a quick turnaround and will battle these same Sea-Hawks again Sunday at 1 p.m.

Photo Credit: Janessa Hogan