Panthers outlast X-Women 58–51
In defensive duel, Panthers defeat X-Women 58–51 Friday night
Charlottetown, PEI – In a defensive duel, the UPEI Panthers defeated the STFX X-Women 58–51 Friday night at the Chi Wan Young Sport Centre.
In a game where offense never came easy, it was the Panthers' composure in the final minutes that made the difference.
UPEI shot just 24.7 percent from the floor, but still found a way to control the game through continuous hustle. The Panthers pulled down 53 rebounds, including 20 on the offensive glass, which gave them 17 second-chance points compared to STFX's six.
A key component of the home team's effort was Ingrid Khuong, who put on an impressive display beneath the rim, finishing with 22 rebounds, six assists, and three steals, while scoring five points.
While STFX leaned heavily on its starting five, UPEI's bench delivered a game-changing 27 points, sparked by Sydney Lawlor who scored 10 points, including a pair of threes.
For the visiting X-Women, the loss came despite moments of strong play. Kristine Cooper led STFX with 13 points and nine rebounds, and Shannon Neita contributed 12 points on a perfect 6-for-6 from the foul line. Cooper surpassed the 500-point plateau in her career with the X-Women.
But turnovers and late-game scoring droughts ultimately hurt their chances. After narrowing the gap to three early in the fourth, the X-Women managed just nine points in the final quarter, shooting 18.2 percent from the floor.
UPEI found enough offense when it mattered most. Ella Simmons hit key shots en route to 11 points and Grace Lancaster contributed 7.
The win pushes UPEI to 13–7, moving them into a tie for third place with STFX (13-6) with 26 points apiece in the tightly packed AUS standings race.
The X-Women will close out regular season action Saturday night in Fredericton against the first place UNB REDS (17-2) in a 6:00 pm game.
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