WOLFVILLE, N.S. - Considered to be the best start to a season in Axewomen basketball's history, the Acadia squad will head into the Holiday Break undefeated and in sole possession of first place in the AUS.
Behind 17-15 after one quarter of play, the Axewomen posted a 15-2 second quarter score and hung onto a halftime 30-19 lead to improve to 7-0.
Third year forward Emily MacLeod (Fredericton, N.B.) was the only double digit scorer in the game, netting 13 points and pulling down eight rebounds - seven defensive. MacLeod grabbed the Subway Player of the Game honours while Panther Katie Donahoe (Riverview, N.B.) was named the player of the game for UPEI.
Trailing 17-15 after one quarter, the Axewomen tightened defensively allowing the Panthers a 6.3% field goal percentage in the second frame.
Pulling ahead 30-19 at the half, Acadia held the lead for the remainder of the game with the largest lead of 25 at 3:36 of the fourth quarter.
Len Harvey, head coach of the Axewomen, spoke about what his team needed to address in their second game against the Panthers. "We needed to be more individually accountable to playing where we should be as part of our team defense. I thought it was a much improved effort, and showed in the score. The best part today was that it was a great team win with lots of solid performances through our roster. It's certainly a nice way to head into the break."
The scoring was spread throughout the Acadia squad with 28 points coming off the bench while starters Allie Berry (Yarmouth, N.S.), Paloma Anderson (Phoenix, Arizona), Lauren Jodrey (Hantsport, N.S.) and Chanel Smith (Halifax, N.S.) had eight, six, six and five points respectively. Kelsey Rice (Beaver Bank, N.S.) led those off the bench with seven points.
The UPEI's points were somewhat evenly distributed with no one achieving double digits in the starting line up or the bench. Donahoe led with nine. Jane McLaughlan (Fortune, P.E.I.), who had a team high seven rebounds, posted eight points along with and Keira Rigby (Charlottetown, P.E.I.). Tamara Tompkins (Centreville, N.S.) and Anne Kiberd (Halifax, N.S.) had seven and six respectively.
The Axewomen head into the holiday break with the Thunder Selects tournament at Saint Mary's on December 28-30, while the Panthers, who drop to 2-5 will be hosting the Saint Mary's Huskies on Sat. January 9th.