The UPEI Panthers improved to 14-2 in regular season action to move into first place in the standings with a 76-45 over the Dalhousie Tigers Sunday afternoon at Dalplex.

The Panthers controlled most of the first quarter, earning a 16-9 lead to start the game. They earned their lead on balanced scoring with Jenna Mae Ellsworth (Charlottetown, PE), scoring four. Reese Baxendale (Apohaqui, NB), Carolina Del Santo (Barcelona, Spain), Julie Campbell (Summerside, PE) and Kimeshia Henry (Ajax, ON) each chipped in three apiece.

Bridget McSwiggan (Ottawa, ON) led the way for the Tigers scoring five off the bench, with Sophie Gaube (Hubley, NS) and Lia Kenztler (Gottingen, Germany) adding two points each.

The Panthers went on an 8-0 run to start the second quarter with Diedre Alexander (Woodstock, NB) scoring her first points of the game for the Tigers to end the streak. They continued to dominate in the second quarter, earning a 41-12 lead heading into the half. The Panthers defence kept the Tigers shooting to just 17% in the first half.

Ellsworth started the scoring in the third with a three-pointer. Dalhousie's Gaube countered with three of her own on the next possession. The Tigers kept pace with the Panthers, upping their scoring in the third quarter, finishing with 21, cutting the UPEI lead to 20. The Tigers went 8-11 nearly doubling UPEI's 12 points, with Robertha Charles (Montreal, QC) scoring nine in the third for Dalhousie.

The Tigers momentum continued into the fourth quarter as Ashley Cain (Toronto, ON) hit a baseline jump shot to cut it to an 18-point game, but that was as close as the Tigers would get as the Panthers outscored the Tigers 23-12 in the final frame. Gaube scored five fourth-quarter points for the Tigers but Henry repeatedly drove the lane to score 10 of her 14 points in the 4th quarter for the Panthers.

Ultimately it was the Panthers who came out on top, winning the game 76-45. Henry led the scoring for UPEI with 14. She also had four rebounds, two steals and two assists. She earned Subway Player of the Game honours for her efforts. Ellsworth and Baxendale each chipped in 11, while Del Santo had a game-high 11 rebounds.

Gaube led the way for the Tigers, scoring a team-high 10 points. Charles had nine points and added nine rebounds.

Both teams are back in action next Friday. UPEI hosts Acadia and the Tigers host UNB. Tip-off for both games is 6pm.