UPEI takes early lead and holds on to beat UNB 69-52

(FREDERICTON, N.B) – The UPEI Panthers beat the UNB Varsity Reds women's basketball team 69-52 Saturday night in a crucial four-point game in front of a crowd of 526 spectators at the Richard J. CURRIE CENTER.

UPEI's defense was the key to victory as they held UNB to 52 points on 40.4% shooting. UPEI got out to an early 9-2 lead, they would not give up this lead for the entire game. 

"I thought we played pretty good." explained Mark English, head coach of the Panthers, "We gave up a few points to Acadia last night so we really focused on D tonight. I think it showed as we held UNB to 52."

UNB would manage to make a run at the start of the second quarter bringing the score to 22-24, but the Panthers answered back and would go on a big run of their own to end the first half. The score at halftime was 38-29 for UPEI.

UPEI locked down the defensive end holding UNB to 23 points in the second half. Along with the great defense, head coach Mark English credited the win to his bench and pointed out that there are still plenty of points left in the standings.

"We're pretty deep, we pretty much played all 12 players," English said. "I think our chances are pretty good heading into playoffs, we have a lot of four-point games left, they're pretty massive."
 
Subway Player of the Game was Tamara Tompkins (Centreville, N.B) for the Panthers who finished with 12 points and four rebounds. UPEI's highest scorer was Anne Kiberd (Halifax, N.S) who just edged out Tompkins with 13 points.

UNB's highest scorer, Jane Boyle (Halifax, N.S) who was also the game's leading scorer, finished with a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds. 

UNB looks to stay in the play-off picture as they travel to Antigonish to take on the StFX X-women next Friday. 

UPEI will play the X-Women the very next day as they head home to try and defend their lead in the AUS standings.

Rob Trites for UNB Sports Information

Photo by Bradley Parker.