The UPEI Panthers have championship aspirations and a roster able to back up those lofty goals.
The squad enters the Atlantic University Sport women’s basketball championship in Halifax as the No. 1 seed.
The core of the team is in its third or fourth season with younger players earning key roles this season, making them deeper than in previous campaigns.
“Hopefully that experience will help us,” conference MVP Jenna Mae Ellsworth said before Tuesday’s practice. “We haven’t had success in the past, but we’re hoping to change that this year.”
UPEI is chasing its sixth conference title but first since 1997-98, when Ellsworth's mother Tracy was the head coach. The other title came in 1992-93 and during a three-peat from 1986-87 to 1988-89.
The Panthers have a bye into Saturday’s 1 p.m. semifinal. They will play the winner of today’s Cape Breton-UNB contest with a chance to play for the conference banner Sunday at 1 p.m. for the first time since losing in the 2018 final to Acadia.
UPEI finished second in the regular season a year ago but lost to the Axewomen in the semifinal.
They are a different squad this time around, but some say the loss helped the team mature and be ready for this year’s quest.
“I think experience is definitely a necessity when it comes to the playoffs,” said Reese Baxendale, a third-year Panthers’ guard who made the conference’s first all-star team this year. “I’m really excited that we have had the two (or three) years under our belt. I think this year we have a really good chance.”
“We just need to focus on us and what we do,” said Ellsworth, the Charlottetown native who was also the conference defensive player of the year. “If we play the way were capable of, I think, the (result) will go in our way.”
The keys to winning this weekend are simple to say but not always easy to translate onto the court.
“Execution. Toughness. Dealing with the excitement and emotions of the moment,” head coach Matt Gamblin said.
The Panthers are a battle-tested team this season. UPEI went through injuries to key players during the season and the next-man-up approach has given the coaching staff an array of options to mix and match during a game.
They earned the top spot last weekend by going to St. John’s, N.L. – a tough place to play at the best of times – and sweeping a doubleheader from third-place Memorial.
“It does speak to our toughness and the girls’ resolve,” said Gamblin, noting they played the last five games on the road.
Now the Panthers are looking to carry that momentum into the biggest weekend of the year.
Carolina Del Santo, a fourth-year centre from Barcelona, Spain, said they want to show small universities like UPEI can compete.
“People sometimes don't think that they can do great things, and we have to show that it can happen,” she said.
Del Santo and Ellsworth both said they will be back next year to complete their degrees but are focused on doing everything possible to win the championship this year.
“We really want to just show what we can do and we are determined this is our year,” Del Santo said.
And Tuesday, she said, there was a buzz around campus.
“Today I went to physio and people that I don't even know came up to me and were like, ‘Great job being first this year and good luck for the championship’. That feels great,” she said.
AUS basketball championship
What – The Atlantic University Sport women’s and men’s basketball championships.
Where – Scotiabank Centre in Halifax.
When – Today through Sunday.
Who – The UPEI Panthers are the top-ranked team in the women’s competition.
Home away from home – There will be a short pep rally at the Orso Pub & Grill in Halifax Saturday starting at 11:30 a.m.
Need to know – Acadia is the two-time defending women’s champs.
Schedule
Women
Today’s quarter-finals
1 p.m. – Cape Breton (5) vs. UNB (4).
6:30 p.m. – Saint Mary’s (6) vs. Memorial (3).
Saturday’s semifinals
1 p.m. – Cape Breton-UNB winner vs. UPEI (1)
6:30 p.m. – Saint Mary’s-Memorial winner vs. Acadia (2).
Sunday’s final
1 p.m. – Semifinal winners.
Men
Today’s quarter-finals
3 p.m. – Memorial (5) vs. Saint Mary’s (4).
8:30 p.m. – Cape Breton (6) vs. UNB (3).
Saturday’s semifinals
3 p.m. – Memorial-Saint Mary’s vs. Dalhousie (1)
8:30 p.m. – Cape Breton-UNB vs. St. FX (2).
Sunday’s final
4 p.m. – Semifinal winners.
