WOLFVILLE, N.S. - The Acadia Axewomen basketball team find themselves on top of the AUS standings with a 6-0 record - the only team remaining undefeated in the conference - after a come-from-behind win over the visiting UPEI Panthers.
Down 39-32 at the half, the Axewomen finished strong with two 28 point quarters and an 88-86 win over the Panthers.=
Acadia struggled in the first half with field goal percentage of 31.5% in the first quarter and a dismal 18.2% in the second frame.
"We talked about spacing the floor and moving the ball. We have a tendency to be ball stoppers, which we were in the first half," pointed out head coach Len Harvey. Adding, "When we got the ball moving and kept our advantages as a team, we put up 56 points in the second half. I will take that any day."
The Axewomen came out vastly improved with 42.9% and 68.8% field goal percentages in the third and fourth quarters.
Down by as much as 13 points late in the third quarter, Lauren Jodrey's (Hantsport, N.S.) layup at 3:33 in the third frame sparked the comeback. An Allie Berry (Yarmouth, N.S.) 2-for-2 on the free throw line combined with two consecutive three point baskets by Subway Player of the Game Alyson Fulton (Merigomish, N.S.) pulled the Axewomen to within seven with 1:58 remaining in the third quarter.
Jodrey's three point basket and Fulton's layup at the end of the third quarter pulled Acadia up to a 64-60 deficit.
Fulton's basket from the distant arc at 7:43 in the final quarter gave the Axewomen their first lead 70-68. A back-and-forth struggle followed with Chanel Smith's (Halifax, N.S.) three pointer with 3:42 remaining gave a slim 79-78 lead back to the Axewomen who retained the advantage to the conclusion of the game.
Fulton led the Axewomen with 17 points, nine of which were timely three point baskets. All starting linemates posted double digit scoring including Allie Berry's 17 points and 14 rebounds. Emily MacLeod (Fredericton, N.B.) , Paloma Anderson (Pheonix, Arizona), Chanel Smith and Lauren Jodrey had 15, 12, 12 and 11 points respectively.
Panther Kiera Rigby (Charlottetown, P.E.I.), who grabbed the Subway Player of the Game honour for the UPEI, had a game high 21 points, while teammates Anne Kiberd (Halifax, N.S.), Jane McLaughlan (Fortune, P.E.I.), Katie Donahoe (Riverview, N.B.) and Tarma Tompkins (Centreville, N.S.) had 17, 16, 13 and 12 points respectively.
"Our issue remains our defense and we are still lacking commitment to put the rubber to the road there. They are practicing tough, working hard, but struggling to apply it in competition. We have to continue to grow each day and commit to being better on that side of the ball," said Harvey after the dust settled. Despite Harvey's defensive concerns the Axewomen out-rebounded UPEI 57-39.
The Axewomen move to the top of the food chain with a 6-0 record following the Saint Mary's Huskies first loss of the year that came at the hands of UNB. UPEI drops to 2-4. Both teams will get a chance to improve their record with a rematch tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 p.m.