Rigby leads the way

Big third quarter propels women’s Panthers to hoops victory

The UPEI Panthers scored 26 points in the third quarter Saturday to hand the UNB Varsity Reds their first loss of the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) women’s basketball season.

The Panthers led 14-12 after the first quarter but went to the halftime break trailing 29-27. They doubled the Reds output in the third to take a 53-42 advantage to the final 10 minutes.

Kiera Rigby scored half of her 20 points at the free-throw line while adding eight rebounds and eight assists. Jenna Mae Ellsworth and Reese Baxendale each scored 16 and Carolina Del Santo contributed 10 and eight rebounds.

Grace Wade scored 21 for UNB and Hannah Currie chipped in 14.

UPEI improved to 2-2 while UNB is 3-1.

Men

Javon Masters had 25 points, seven rebounds and five assists Saturday to lead the Reds to a 88-80 victory over the host Panthers in men’s basketball action. Will Legere added 20 points while Tyrell Leotaud scored 11 off the bench.

Milorad Sedlarevic scored 20 to lead the Panthers, who also got 17 from Samy Mohamed and 15 from Dakelle Brooks. Amin Suleman scored 11 points, including a trey at the end of the first half, to go with eight assists and six rebounds for the home side.

The Reds led 16-12 after the first quarter but the game was tied 33-33 at the half. UNB went to the fourth ahead 64-56 en route to improving to 4-0 while UPEI is 0-4.

The Panthers basketball teams head to Sydney, N.S., this week to play the Cape Breton Capers on Saturday and Sunday.

Hockey Women

Brittany Poitras scored a power-play goal in overtime Saturday to lead Moncton to a 2-1 win against the Panthers in women’s hockey action.

Katryne Villeneuve scored for Moncton in regulation while Jenna Pellerin from Leah Byrne replied for UPEI. Gabrielle Forget made 20 saves for the win while Megan Sullivan stopped 23 shots in the loss.

The Panthers led 1-0 after the first period and the game was tied 1-1 heading to the third period. Moncton was 1-for-7 on the power play while UPEI was 0-for-5.

Moncton improved to 5-3-1 while UPEI is 2-4-4.

The Panthers host the St. Thomas Tommies Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Men

Adam Stevens’ power-play goal with 4:32 left in the third period was the winner Saturday as the St. FX X-Men defeated the Panthers 4-2 in men’s hockey action.

Michael Clarke, Matt Needham and Holden Cook each had a goal and an assist in the win at MacLauchlan Arena. Mark Tremaine had two assists while Cole MacDonald, Craig Duininck and Chase Marchand each added one.

Beau McCue and Darcy Ashley scored for UPEI with assists to R.T. Rice, Gabe Guertler, Marcus Power and Cody Payne. It was McCue’s first of the season. Chase Marchand made 23 saves for the win while Matt Mahalak stopped 27 shots in the loss.

St. FX improved to 9-1-2 while UPEI is 3-8-1.