CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. - While the Axewomen basketball team lost their both season opening weekend games against UPEI in Charlottetown, a lot was taken away by a young and talented team.
Without third year point guard Rita Sibo for the season, due to an injury sustained in practice in October and injured guard and leading scorer Kristy Moore, the Axewomen scrapped by with two losses to the improved UPEI Panthers.
While the first game against the Panthers on Friday night was not a positive outcome, losing to UPEI 62-47, Acadia bounced back in game two on Saturday evening with a close 59-54 loss.
The Axewomen were 28% from the floor and one for eight from the distant arc in the second half. Leading scorer Kristy Moore played under two minutes, leaving the game with an injured knee. Second year guard Maya Macatupag picked up the slack with a 15 point performance, while teammate and senior forward Abbey Duinker posted the second most points of nine.
UPEI took an early first quarter 24-10 lead and continued with several runs, pushing the Panthers into a 37-19 lead. Acadia picked up the pace in the second half but could not make up the 18 point deficit, capturing only a 10-8 fourth quarter win.
Panther Laura Power recorded her first double-double of the season with 11 points and rebounds, while teammate Jenna Jones had a game high 16 points. Terrilyn Herrick and Amy Gough had 13 and 14 points respectively in the Panther's win.
The Panthers had 24 bench points compared to Acadia's 14.
Fifth year post Abbey Duinker posted a game high 20 points in the Axewomen's second loss to UPEI in the two game weekend series. Katie Ross, a dual-sport athlete who just completed her soccer season last week as a participant for the soccer Axewomen in an AUS championship game loss to Cape Breton, added 11 points to the Axewomen's 54 point total.
An improved outing by Acadia was highlighted by a better field goal percentage of 40.4% compared to UPEI's 30.3%. Leading the Panthers 14-13 after one quarter, the game was deadlocked at 23 after on half. Tied at 38 after three quarters, the Panthers took the final frame 21-16 for the eventual 59-54 win.
Standouts for the Panthers included local Horton product Candace Smith's 14 points, while Amy Gough posted her second double digit scoring game of 12 points.
With three first year players in the starting lineup, the Axewomen head coach Bev Greenlaw can only be patient with his young squad and draw from the many positives from the weekend. "It is a process; we'll keep working. We will continue to do the work we need to do, with whoever is healthy enough to do it, and the kids will continue to support one another in the process".
The Axewomen will reload this weekend and prepare to host Dalhousie in their season opener at home on Wednesday night. UPEI will head to Fredericton next weekend to take on the 1-1 UNB Varsity Reds.