UPEI defeats second-ranked Acadia in Saturday semifinal showdown

HALIFAX, NS (Feb. 21, 2026) - Grace Lancaster is making the most of her final season of Atlantic University Sport (AUS) basketball. 

The fifth-year guard from Fall River, NS scored 28 points as her third-ranked UPEI Panthers defeated the second-seed Acadia Axewomen 69-63 to advance to the AUS Women's Basketball Championship final Sunday afternoon at 1pm against the UNB REDS. 

It will be the second straight Sunday appearance for the Panthers, who fell to Saint Mary's in last year's championship final. A win Sunday would give UPEI their first banner since 2020. 

UPEI lost the season series to UNB this year, falling in both games played back in mid-January. 

Not much separated the teams in the opening half as both squads traded baskets to the tune of a 37-37 deadlock at the break.  

Lancaster led the Panthers in scoring with 10 in the first two periods, while Sarah Delorey's (Elmsdale, NS) strong play in the key resulted in 12 points for Acadia. 

UPEI took steps to pull away in the third when Lancaster opened the period with a three-pointer to go up 40-37. She added two more from distance and ended the quarter with 13 points to give the Panthers a 58-52 lead. 

After battling hard for three quarters, both teams seemed to tire in the fourth. The Panthers and Axewomen both shot just 21 percent from the field in the final 10 minutes to combine for 22 points. 

UPEI sealed things when Lancaster stole the ball and ran the length of the court. She laid the ball in and was fouled in the process. She made the ensuing free throw to put UPEI up 69-63 with just 11 seconds remaining. 

Her performance earned her the Player of the Game award. 

First-year guard Ella Simmons (Fredericton, NB) also had a big game for the Panthers, scoring 12 points while running the team's offense late in the game. 

Acadia was led by AUS MVP Samantha Russell (Dartmouth, NS), who finished the game with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Delorey added 14 points and 16 rebounds.