HALIFAX, N.S. - The UPEI Panthers are going to play for the Atlantic University Sport women’s basketball title.
The Panthers defeated the Cape Breton Capers 78-73 in Saturday’s semifinal. They’ll play the top-ranked Acadia Axewomen, who defeated the Saint Mary’s Huskies 65-43 Saturday, in Sunday’s championship game at 1 p.m. at Scotiabank Centre in Halifax.
Rookie Reese Baxendale led the Panthers in scoring for the second straight game at the AUS championship with 24. Jenna Mae Ellsworth scored 18 while Karla Yepez chipped in 17 off the bench.
Jane McLaughlin added 10 points and nine rebounds.
Capers forward Alison Keough scores a team-high 22 points in her final university game.
Cape Breton led 20-17 after the first quarter but trailed 36-32 at the half and 51-50 heading to the fourth.
The Panthers splits their two games with the Axewomen with each winning on the road. UPEI knocked of the Axewomen 88-68 on Jan. 20 when Acadia was ranked No. 1 in the country.
It is the Panthers first trip to the conference final since losing to Saint Mary’s 59-51 in 2015 in Mark English’s only season coaching UPEI.
