Panthers unleash 12-0 fourth-quarter run to sink X-Women

By Thomas Becker

The UPEI Panthers saved their best basketball for the final 10 minutes Friday night, ripping off a 12-0 run early in the fourth quarter to pull away from the St. FX X-Women and earn a 58-51 win at the Chi Wan Young Sport Centre.

It was a tight, physical game from the opening tip. St. FX (13-6) edged in front early, but UPEI (13-7) answered with steady pressure at the rim and multiple second-chance looks. Lily Vrugteman knocked down a three to tie it at 14, and Karla Benitez capped the opening frame by scoring the final five points for the Panthers as UPEI carried a 19-16 lead into the second quarter. 

Buckets were tough to come by in the second, so UPEI manufactured offence. The Panthers attacked the paint, earned their way to the line, and capitalized—going 11-of-13 at the stripe to create breathing room and head into halftime up 36-29.

St. FX seized the momentum in a grind-it-out third quarter where they held the Panthers to just seven points while outscoring them 13-7 to tighten the margin to 43-42 heading into the fourth. Kristine Cooper controlled the glass and kept possessions alive, finishing with 13 points and nine rebounds, while Shannon Neita attacked inside for 12 and Mikaela James added 11 as the visitors tightened the game. 

Then came the burst that decided it.

After St. FX briefly took the lead, Sydney Lawlor opened the fourth with a tough finish at the rim. Samantha Zoffranieri followed with a momentum-shifting three, and Elise Plaschka converted inside as UPEI ripped off 12 straight points to seize control at 55-44.

Ella Simmons led the Panthers with 11 points, while Lawlor added 10 off the bench. Ingrid Khuong was the engine all night, stuffing the stat sheet with 22 rebounds, six assists, and three steals as UPEI won the second-chance battle 17-6 and got 27 points from its bench.

With the win, the Panthers are now in position to claim third place in the AUS standings—but they'll need a little help, requiring St. FX to fall to the UNB Reds Saturday night.

Photos by Janessa Vanden Broek