Panthers hold off late Capers surge with 71-67 OT win

(HALIFAX, N.S.) It took overtime to decide a quarterfinal for the third game in a row. On Friday night, the UPEI Panthers (3rd seed) narrowly defeated the Cape Breton Capers (6th seed) 71-67. 

Subway player of the game Samantha Zoffranieri (Brampton, Ont.) was key in the win for UPEI, with 17 points and 10 rebounds, including three baskets and a steal early in the fourth quarter as the Panthers went back and forth in a tight game. 

The Capers started strong in the second quarterfinal of the 2023 Subway AUS Women's Basketball Championship, with 14 unanswered points. A layup by CBU forward Hailey MacLeod (Mario Bridge, N.S.) prompted a timeout to be called by UPEI coach Matthew Gamblin, recently awarded AUS coach of the year. 

Soon after, second team all-star Karla Yepez (Quito, Ecuador) had a basket to stop the run and put the Panthers on the board. A pair of baskets from Kiyara Letlow (Toronto, Ont.) helped the Capers extend their lead, with the Cape Breton team ahead 20-11 through one quarter. 

The Capers continued to build on their lead early in the second quarter with Chermensa van la Parra (Rotterdam, Netherlands) showing prowess in the paint with a basket. 

Next, it was the Panthers turn to put up points, with the team going on a 15-0 run, including four points from Yepez, to give UPEI its first lead of the night. 

A MacKenzee Ryan (Glace Bay, N.S.) three-pointer from the corner of the court stopped the run as the Capers closed the gap towards the end of the half. The second team all-star finished the half with 11 points and was two-for-four in three-point attempts. 

The Panthers left the court ahead 34-31 after half, helped by 23 points in the second quarter. Rookie Aiden Rainford (Toronto, Ont.) led the way with seven rebounds and seven points. 

CBU once again started a half strong, outscoring UPEI 15-12 in the third quarter. All-rookie team forward Darah Fleurgin (Montreal, Qc.) started to heat up for the Capers, with a steal, assist, a pair of defensive rebounds and made three free throws in the quarter. 

The Panthers made timely free throws in the final moments but CBU's Darah Fleurgin buzzer beater off a rebound made it 65-65 to send the quarterfinal to overtime. The first three games of both the men's and women's championships needed extra time to decide a winner in an exciting opening to the tournament at the Scotiabank Centre. 

A pair of free throws late in overtime by Grace Lancaster (Fall River, N.S.) ensured the win for UPEI as the Panthers limited Cape Breton to one basket in extra time. 

UPEI are back in action Saturday, February 25 at 6:30 p.m. and will face the Saint Mary's Huskies (2nd seed). Watch every game of the 2023 Subway AUS Basketball Championships on AUStv.ca.

Source: Jonathan Briggins for Atlantic University Sport