WOLFVILLE, N.S. - The UPEI Panthers evened the two game series against the Acadia Axewomen 1-1 with a 70-62 win on Saturday night.
After a very close game Friday night, both teams were determined to leave everything on the court tonight.
The first quarter foreshadowed a close game, with scoring constantly going back and forth. By the end of the first 10 minutes, the score favoured the Panthers by two as they led 15-13.
It was the Axewomen who would come out of the second quarter with a two-point lead: 31-29.
Karla Yepez Villamorin (Quito, Equador) of the Panthers scored 11 in the half to lead all players.
The Panthers were supported in the third quarter by Carolina Del Santo (Barcelona, Spain) who took over the scoring lead with 12 points.
The Axewomen had many of their players involved in their scoring and took a 46-43 lead going into the last break in their 'scoring by committee' style.
Not until the last minute did the Panthers finally establish a safe lead. The team went on an 8-point run to put the game out of reach for the Axewomen.
The final score of the game read 70-62 for UPEI.
Reese Baxendale (Apohaqui, N.B.) was a key contributor in the Panthers' last quarter push and finished with a game-high 18 points. Baxendale made 7 of 8 free throws and shot 5 for 14 from the field, and was named the Subway Player of the Game.
The Axewomen were lead offensively by Haley McDonald, who made all 6 of her free throws, scored 12 points, and had 2 rebounds and assists. McDonald was named Acadia's Player of the Game.
While the Axewomen out-rebounded the Panthers, UPEI took advantage of 16 turnovers that they converted to 14 points.
The Axewomen head to Memorial for two games next weekend and return at home against StFX on Saturday, Nov. 25 at 6:00 p.m. – Minor Basketball Night – before the Holiday Break.
The Panthers return home to host Saint Mary's on Friday.
Submitted by Theodore Giesen, Acadia Athletics Communications Office.