Panthers rediscover defensive form in 67-56 win over St. FX

By Thomas Becker

The UPEI Panthers looked more like themselves Sunday afternoon.

It was on the defensive end where Panthers head coach Matt Gamblin wanted to see the biggest improvement, and he got it. His team held the St. FX X-Women (2-12) to just 32.8 per cent shooting en route to a 67-56 win. 

"The bounce back was great," Gamblin said of his team's ability to come away with a win following a tough loss. "We just kind of remembered who we are, which is a good defensive team that takes care of the little things."

Panther rookie Alicia Bowering stood out from an offensive standpoint, as the sharpshooter scored a game-high 17 points on an efficient 7-for-11 shooting, including three three-pointers. She also added four rebounds and three assists in the win. Bowering was one of three Panthers (10-1) to finish in double figures, which included Devon Lawlor and Lauren Rainford, who had 10 points apiece.

Kira Atherley scored 15 points for the road team and was the lone X-Woman to reach double digits.

After Saturday's tough shooting night, Bowering came to life in the first and carried her team to a 14-11 lead with 10 points. St. FX used a balanced attack with five players hitting the scoresheet, but still trailed 15-14 after 10 minutes.

"It can be frustrating sometimes when your shot's not falling," Bowering said. "But my teammates and my coaches have confidence in me, and they just tell me to keep shooting it."

The Panthers started to pull away early in the second quarter thanks to an 11-2 run. Rainford got it started with four points before Lawlor drilled a triple to make it 26-16.

UPEI was just as effective on the defensive end, as they held the X-Women to just four points on 14.3 per cent shooing in the frame and led 30-18 at the break.

Trying to get their offence going, the Panthers looked to the paint for an answer. They consistently drove hard to the basket and converted four straight layups to spark the offence. Then the long-range shots started to fall, as Lawlor and Bowering connected on back-to-back triples to give the home team a 46-29 lead before carrying a 54-33 advantage into the fourth.

Gamblin went to his bench for most of fourth, but a late push from the X-Women forced the Panther coach to go back to his starters to secure the win. St. FX whittled the lead down to 15 on a few occasions, but time was running out to mount a comeback, as UPEI held on for the 67-56 win.

Bowering said the team is starting to feel good after three months without live competition. 

"I think we're getting there defensively," she said. "We're getting in the spots we need to be and we just have to continue to improve our communication. Once we get that, I think our defence will flow." 

The Panthers return to the hardwood March 11 and 12 when they travel to St. John's, Newfoundland to take on the Memorial Sea-Hawks.

Photo Credit: Janessa Hogan