Axewomen open Shoot for the Cure weekend with win over UPEI

(WOLFVILLE, N.S.) - The Acadia Axewomen won their second game in a row at the Annual CIS Shoot for the Cure Night, as they handed the UPEI Panthers 62-60 thrilling loss.

The win came behind 18 points and 11 rebounds from senior forward Abbey Duinker;  nine points and nine boards from rookie Alexandra Berry and 13 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals from Subway Player of the Game Aprille Deus.

The Panthers were lead by 15 points and four assists from Darcy Zinck who shot 5-7 from the distant arc.

A close-fought first quarter ended at 19-18 in favour of the Panthers who shot 3-6 from the three-point line in the first and 50 per cent on the night. Both teams had trouble scoring in a turnover filled second quarter that saw the Panthers stretch the lead to seven, 31-24.

The turnovers continued for both teams to start the second but Coach Greenlaw called a timeout and reeled his team in. Exiting the timeout, Acadia came out firing, shooting 52 per cent from the field and trailing only by one as they entered the final frame.

Deus had eight of her thirteen points in the fourth and came up huge in the win for the Axewomen, including two key three pointers that erupted the crowd.

Duinker and Emily MacLeod also finished the game strong for the Axewomen, sinking their free throws and clinching the win.

Despite a buzzer beating 3-point attempt from just inside half court by Zinck, the Panthers fall to 4-7 on the season, while Acadia moves ahead of UPEI with a 4-6 record and a game in hand.

UPEI scored 25 points off of turnovers compared to Acadia's 13, but Acadia netted 14 points off of second chances whle the Panthers were dismal at four points.

Acadia and UPEI will face each other again tomorrow evening before the Panthers travel home to face UNB and Acadia faces Cape Breton next weekend in the Jam-the-Gym Pots and Pans event.

Source: Ashley Hasler for Acadia Sports Information