The UPEI Panthers (4-0) defeated the Dalhousie Tigers (0-4) in AUS women's basketball action Saturday night at Dalplex in Halifax.
UPEI was first on the board with two points from Carolina Del Santo (Barcelona, Spain). Dalhousie's Chloe Wilson (Dartmouth, NS) was quick to respond with three of her own in the opening minutes of the game. The teams traded points early on until the Panthers started to pull away from the Tigers by controlling the rebounding in the offensive zone in the latter part of the first quarter to lead 25-15 after 10 minutes of play.
Lauren Rainford (Toronton, Ont.) did most of the scoring for UPEI netting 11 points while Katie Crombeen (Calgary, Alta.) and Lia Kentzler (Gottigen, Germany) had four apiece for the Tigers.
The Panthers came out aggressively in the second quarter, forcing Tigers head coach Anton Berry to call a time out to regroup early on. The Tigers closed in on the Panthers lead but still trailed by eight heading into half time with a score of 34-26.
UPEI closed out the first half shooting 100% from the line but went just one for nine in three-point shooting. The Tigers shot 66% from beyond the arc and were six for 10 from the line.
The Panthers controlled the third quarter, allowing the Tigers to score just 10 points, stretching their lead to 59-36 heading into the fourth quarter. Rainford had 14 points in the quarter, while Jenna Mae Ellsworth (Charlottetown, P.E.) added six.
Dalhousie struggled to keep up with UPEI as the Panthers continued to increase their lead in the fourth and ultimately win 83-47.
Subway Player of the Game honours went to Lauren Rainford of the UPEI Panthers who had 30 points and six rebounds in the game. Ellsworth had 22 points and added five rebounds and three assists.
Crombeen led the Tigers in scoring with 13 points and added five rebounds, while Andrea Hebert (St. Catherines, Ont.) had nine points.
UPEI hosts the Cape Breton Capers Friday, November 12, while Dalhousie head to Newfoundland to play the Memorial Sea-Hawks next Saturday and Sunday.