(HALIFAX, N.S.) The No. 1-seeded UPEI Panthers advance to the Subway AUS Women's Basketball Championship game with a 73-60 victory over the UNB Reds Saturday afternoon at the Scotiabank Centre.
The Panthers were led by AUS MVP Jenna Mae Ellsworth, who finished with a game-high 24 points, adding three rebounds, one assist and one steal.
The Panthers had to play catchup right out of the gate, as the Reds took off to an early lead, holding a 7-3 edge just three minutes into regulation.
The Panthers then began to pull ahead, as a jump shot from Carolina Del Santo (Barcelona, Spain) made it 15-14 to give UPEI their first lead of the game. However, UNB's Katie Daley (Hanwell, N.B.) earned three points from an and-one play, allowing the Reds to regain their lead and sit with a 17-15 edge after 10 minutes of play.
The Panthers came out hot in the second, starting off with an 11-0 run to take a 26-17 lead just four minutes into the frame. UPEI outscored UNB 18-6 in the quarter, to hold a 33-23 lead at the half.
The Reds looked for the comeback after halftime, scoring nine unanswered points to cut the Panthers lead to 37-34 four minutes into the third, but the Panthers weren't giving up just yet. With just under a minute remaining in the third frame, a huge three from AUS first team all-star Reese Baxendale (Sussex, N.B.) put UPEI ahead 53-36, to finish the quarter with a 53-38 lead.
Despite the Reds efforts for a comeback and even outscoring the Panthers in the final frame, UPEI held on for the 73-60 victory.
Baxendale had a notable game for the Panthers, putting up 21 points, with teammate Lauren Fleming (Sussex, N.B.) having a game-high 11 rebounds in the win.
Eva Tumwine led the Panthers in the loss. She finished with a team-high 15 points, adding five rebounds, one assist and one steal.
The Panthers will now face the winner of the second semifinal between the Memorial Sea-Hawks and the Acadia Axewomen.
The championship game will take place Sunday afternoon, March 1 at 1p.m. at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax.