WomenÕs Basketball Preview: StFX vs. Acadia and UPEI

The StFX X-Women host a pair of weekend games at the StFX Oland Centre, starting with Saturday, February 11th when they face the CIS No. 7 Acadia Axewomen in a 6:00 pm tip-off. The X-Women will then host the UPEI Panthers on Sunday, February 12th at 2:00 pm. The sixth place X-Women will be looking to gain serious ground in the standings as each game is worth four points.

Axewomen:  12-1 record with 34 points, first in the AUS conference

X-Women:   7-7 record with 14 points, sixth in the AUS conference

X-Women vs Axewomen:  The X-Women have only faced Acadia once this season, which resulted in an 87-78 loss to the CIS No. 7 Axewomen in Wolfville, N.S. The two teams have squared off in exhibition and tournament play as well.
StFX is looking to stun the top ranked Axewomen and take away four points.

Key Players: The X-Women have been led by freshman guard Vanessa Pickard all season long. Pickard is seventh in league scoring, averaging 15.5 points per game. Kirsten Jones has also been valuable to the X-Women this season, picking her play up considerably in the new-year after recovering from a concussion. She currently sits eighth overall in AUS scoring, averaging 15.4 points per game. The Axewomen have no shortage of firepower, boasting three players in the top ten in scoring. Emma Duinker is fourth in the league averaging 17.5 points per game, Kristy Moore is sixth at 15.8 points per game and Abbey Duinker is tenth overall, averaging 14.5 points per game.

Game Notes:  This will be a very tough matchup for the X-Women as Acadia boasts tremendous depth throughout their lineup. Acadia is first in the nation in three-point percentage and field goals made. It will be crucial for the X-Women to shut these intangibles down. Local Antigonish native Melissa Gotchall, a fresman with the Axewomen, makes her debut at the Oland Centre for the first time this season.

Panthers:  2-13 record with 6 points, eighth in the AUS conference

X-Women:  7-7 record with 14 points, sixth in the AUS conference

X-Women vs. Panthers:  The Panthers played host to the X-Women in the two teams’ only meeting of the season this year, and came away with a 90-83 victory on January 15th in Charlottetown. The sixth place X-Women are looking to avenge the loss to the eighth place Panthers in an important four point game Sunday afternoon.

Key Players:  Vanessa Pickard and Kirsten Jones factor in as the two key players for the X-Women. Donisha Young has also been very valuable to the X-Women this season, averaging 14.2 points per game and placing fourth in conference rebounding, averaging 7.7 a game. Jenna Jones leads the Panthers into this game, averaging 11.5 points per game.

Game Notes:  The two teams sit in the lower half of the conference standings, but the X-Women have a chance to climb into a tie for fifth place with a victory over the Panthers. UPEI has won two games this season, one coming against the X-Women so their confidence will be high going into this one. The X-Women have to control the pace of the play and a fast start is crucial if they plan on leaving with a victory.