CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – The UPEI Panthers know where they want to go and what it will take to get there.
The key is to stay in the moment and not look too far ahead.
“We all know what we want, but it’s going to start by chipping away slowly to get to that final goal,” said Jane McLaughlin, a fifth-year Panthers forward from Fortune.
The Panthers are coming off an 11-9 regular season that saw them finish third in the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) women’s basketball regular season. They knocked off UNB in the quarter-final and Cape Breton in the semifinal before losing in the final to top-ranked Acadia.
The cast that took the Panthers to the verge of their first conference title since 1998 is largely intact. Four-fifths of the team’s starting lineup is back, including the conference’s last two rookies of the year in Charlottetown’s Jenna Mae Ellsworth and Reese Baxendale of Sussex, N.B. Joining the guards is third-year UPEI centre Carolina Del Santo, the reigning conference defensive player of the year and McLaughlin.
The Panthers will miss the on-court production and leadership Kiera Rigby brought to the team for the past five seasons. But McLaughlin said players will shine with increased opportunities.
“It’s opened up chances for other people to show their abilities.”
The other big change comes on the sidelines as Matt Gamblin takes over as head coach for Greg Gould.
Gamblin is a 31-year-old who grew up in Spencer’s Island, N.S., along the Bay of Fundy shore about 30 minutes from Parrsboro. He played at the University of King’s College and Mount Saint Vincent University.
He led the Mount Allison Mounties to the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association women’s title last season and is looking forward to tip-off after having the team together for two months of practice and pre-season games.
“I remember as a player how long the first couple of months can seem, so they’re eager and prepared to get things started,” he said.
“Expectations are high,” he added. “It’s a good blend of veterans and youth, but they have high expectations for themselves.”
The squad is only running with 11 players, so depth could be an issue during the season, but the squad has the benefit of continuity and McLaughlin said there’s a good vibe within the team.
There will be no easing into the regular season as former Panthers head coach Mark English brings his Memorial Sea-Hawks to Charlottetown today for a 6 p.m. contest. The teams will meet again Sunday at 1 p.m.
UPEI received six of the eight first-place votes in the coaches’ pre-season poll with Cape Breton and Memorial each receiving one. Memorial was tied with Acadia for third in the poll.
Sydney Stewart, who averaged 16.3 points and 6.6 rebounds en route to being named a second team AUS all-star last season, and Brooklyn Wright, who averaged 14.9 points and 5.9 rebounds, are back for a fifth year with the Sea-Hawks. Second-year forward Cameron Longley will look to build on her freshman season when she was named to the conference’s all-rookie team.
McLaughlin started with the Panthers in 2013. While she didn’t play with the squad in 2014-15, she practised with the English-coached team and accompanied it to Halifax when they made it to the final before losing to a high-powered Saint Mary’s Huskies team.
McLaughlin would like to finish her career by taking the next step and winning the elusive conference championship.
“It’s time. The hunger and thirst are there,” she said. “It’s hanging in front of us and it’s time to grab it.”
McLaughlin also has another goal in mind this year and that is making the most of their home games.
“That’s one thing that I really want to take pride in this year,” she said “My Island. Our Island. Let’s protect it.”
Taking care of business on home court would go a long way in the team being in conversation for one of the two first-round byes in the playoffs.
Roster
A look at the UPEI Panthers women’s basketball team’s roster.
Position, player Season Height Hometown
G Jenna Mae Ellsworth Third 5'10” Charlottetown
F Lauren Shallow Third 5'11” St. John's, N.L.
F Lauren Fleming Second 5'11” Sussex, N.B.
F Tamara Timm Fourth 5’9” Toronto
G Reese Baxendale Second 5’8” Sussex, N.B.
F Julie Campbell Third 5'11” Summerside
G Karla Yepez Third 6’ Quito, Ecuador
F Jane McLaughlin Fifth 5'10” Fortune
G Kimeshia Henry Fourth 5’5” Ajax, Ont.
F Annabelle Charron Second 5’9” Saint-Hyacinthe, Que.
C Carolina Del Santo Third 6’1” Barcelona, Spain
Coaching staff
Head coach – Matt Gamblin.
Assistant coaches – Carolyn Huggan and Ryan Lloyd.
Strength and conditioning coach – Mitch Caissey.
Year by year
A look at the UPEI Panthers women’s basketball team’s record during the past 10 seasons in the eight-team Atlantic University Sport Conference
Season Regular season Playoffs
2017-18 11-9, third Lost in final
2016-17 11-9, fourth Lost in quarter-final
2015-16 6-14, fifth Lost in quarter-final
2014-15 13-7, third Lost in final
2013-14 9-11, sixth Lost in semifinal in overtime
2012-13 6-14, sixth DNQ as eighth-place UNB was hosting
2011-12 2-18, eighth DNQ
2010-11 0-20, eighth DNQ
2009-10 0-20, eighth DNQ
2008-09 2-18, seventh DNQ
Coaches’ poll
The Atlantic University Sport women’s basketball pre-season coaches’ pool was released Thursday. First-place votes in parenthesis.
Rank, university Points
1. UPEI (6) 48
2. Cape Breton (1) 40
T3. Memorial (1) 35
4. Acadia 35
5. UNB 23
6. Dalhousie 19
7. Saint Mary's 17
8. St. FX 7
