Panthers cruise to victory over short-handed CAPERS

SYDNEY,NS—The visiting UPEI Panthers (4-3) scored a 74-61 victory over the Cape Breton University (CBU) CAPERS (5-2) in Atlantic University Sport (AUS) women's basketball action Friday evening at Sullivan Fieldhouse.

At the tail-end of a back-and-forth first quarter, the Panthers – keyed by veteran Lauren Rainford (Toronto, ON), who finished with 10 points in the opening stanza – made a late run to take a 21-13 edge heading to the second quarter.

Early in that 10 minutes, UPEI extended their advantage to as many as 13 points, with Grace Lancaster (Fall River, NS) and Devon Lawlor (Millcove, PE) leading the charge offensively.

Amanda Cruickshank (Montreal, QC) and Hailey MacLeod (Marion Bridge, NS), with nine and eight points, respectively, battled to keep the CAPERS within striking distance.

CBU trimmed the deficit to eight points late in the first half, but – on the strength of a couple of hoops from Rainford, the Panthers took a 41-28 lead to the locker room.

UPEI capitalized on a whopping 14 offensive boards in the first half, while outscoring CBU 11-2 in second-chance points.

Early in the third quarter, the Panthers extended their lead on a pair of three-pointers from Karla Benitez (Charlottetown, PE), but the CAPERS answered, with MacLeod tallying six consecutive points to slice the margin to 46-34.

Veterans Rainford and Deborah Aboagye (Montreal, QC) answered for UPEI, whose lead mushroomed to as many as 25 points – at 64-39 – heading for the fourth quarter.

Led by MacLeod and a spinning lay-up in the lane from Emily MacNeil (Trenton, NS), the CAPERS narrowed the deficit to 16 points.

But, once again, the Panthers replied and secured a 74-55 lead on a three-pointer from Lawlor.

MacLeod, who finished with a game-high 30 points, and her teammates continued to battle until the final buzzer, but UPEI never allowed their lead to drop below double digits down the stretch.

Rainford fashioned a double-double to lead the Panthers – 20 points and a game-high 12 rebounds – while adding four assists and two steals. Devon Lawlor finished with 16 points, three rebounds and three assists. Lancaster also hit double figures with 10 points.

MacNeil led the CAPERS with eight rebounds, while Alicia Bowering (Orangeville, ON) garnered seven assists. MacLeod added seven rebounds and three blocked shots to go with her 30 points, which earned her the CBU Subway Player of the Game.

The Panthers will return to action on Saturday, Nov. 23, when they tip off versus the host STFX X-Women in Antigonish, while the CAPERS will welcome the Memorial Sea-Hawks to Sydney on Friday, Nov. 29.

Start time for both matchups is 6 p.m.

RECAP COURTESY: CBU Sports Information / PHOTOS BY: Vaughan Merchant