Panthers take care of business vs. Dalhousie

The UPEI Panthers began the New Year by turning an earlier loss into a win.

After letting a previous meeting with the Dalhousie Tigers slip away, UPEI (9-3) delivered a composed response Friday night at the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre, leaning on defensive grit, timely shot-making and a poised finish to earn a 62-52 victory over the Tigers (2-10).

The night opened in a grind. Possessions were long, looks were contested, and points were scarce, as nearly four minutes passed before Devon Lawlor finally broke the seal with a driving layup to make it 2-0. Moments after Grace Lancaster stretched the floor with a three to push it to 5-2, Karla Benitez tracked down her own miss before drilling a triple to extend the margin to 8-2. Ella Simmons added a pair of finishes around the rim, and Samantha Zoffranieri capped the frame with a smooth jumper as UPEI carried a 16-10 edge into the second.

Dalhousie tried to quicken the tempo in the second, briefly trimming the margin to 18-14. Lawlor answered with a strong take to the rim to steady UPEI, and when Simmons buried a three from the wing, the Panthers pushed the lead back to seven at 23-16. The Tigers threatened again, closing within four, but UPEI continued to find answers. Regan Cornford slipped inside for a finish to make it 25-19, and Lawlor capped the half with a deep three, restoring a seven-point cushion as the Panthers headed to the break up 32-23.

Dalhousie came out of the break with urgency. Two quick baskets and a steal turned 32-23 into 32-29 in a hurry, pulling the Tigers within a single possession and forcing UPEI to reset. Lancaster steadied the Panthers with a tough finish through contact, and UPEI leaned on its work on the glass to reclaim momentum. Cornford cleaned up a miss to make it 38-35, and Lancaster later knocked down a jumper off a Benitez feed to restore a four-point cushion. A late layup from Simmons sent UPEI into the fourth ahead 47-39.

Dalhousie wasn't done. A quick run trimmed the lead to three early in the final frame, and the building tightened. Lawlor answered with the shot of the night—a cold-blooded three that pushed the margin back to 52-44—and later struck again from deep to rebuild an eight-point cushion. From there, UPEI closed with discipline, knocking down free throws and stacking defensive stops to secure the 62-52 win.

Lawlor led the Panthers with 15 points, while Cornford and Lancaster added 10 apiece. Simmons chipped in nine, and Benitez was a steadying presence off the bench with seven points and six assists.

Dalhousie was paced by Madelyn White, who finished with 16 points, and Cairo Henning (10 points), but UPEI's defence did the real damage beyond the arc, holding the Tigers to just 1-for-14 from three.

The Panthers are back at it next weekend, facing a stiff test when they welcome the first-place UNB Reds to for a two-game set Friday and Saturday.