By Thomas Becker, UPEI Athletics

The UPEI Panthers are a step closer a playoff spot after defeating the Dalhousie Tigers 75-50 Saturday night. 

Currently, the Panthers (8-9) are 1.5 games up on St. FX and 2.5 games ahead of Cape Breton. And with three games remaining, they need to hold off just one of those teams to clinch a spot. 

After a sluggish first half, UPEI showed they were the better team in the final 20 minutes where they outscored their opponent 44-20. Lauren Rainford, in particular, was spectacular, as the fourth-year guard scored 14 of her game-high 20 points in the second half. She also hauled in seven rebounds and added five assists, four blocks, and two steals. 

Aiden Rainford was also effective on both ends, finishing with 14 points, eight rebounds, three blocks, and a steal. Grace Lancaster chipped in with 13 points, including three triples, while Devon Lawlor had 12 points, four assists, and three rebounds. 

On the other side, Tigers (0-17) Simona Matic and Kaitlyn Ferrier reached double figures with 16 and 13 points, respectively. 

UPEI doubled up the Tigers early in the game, as Sydney Cummins drilled a three-pointer to make it 8-4. After a 5-0 run gave Dalhousie the lead, three consecutive triples (one from Lawlor and two from Vrugteman) the other way made it 17-9. 

The Panthers were scorching from beyond the arc in the first quarter, where they connected on six three-pointers and carried a 22-17 lead into the second. 

After the first quarter's impressive offensive display, the second was anything but. The two teams traded baskets for most of the frame before the Tigers closed the gap to one behind an 8-1 run. UPEI was limited to just nine points, but still carried a slim 31-30 advantage into the break. 

Dalhousie opened the half with a basket to retake the lead, but the Panthers responded with a 15-2 run to storm in front 46-34. The Panthers attacked the basket at will, as Lauren drove in for back-to-back layups before Aiden converted a tough and-one. 

Lauren continued her inspired play, adding two more layups to her total, as UPEI went into the fourth ahead 50-39. 

Grace Lancaster stepped up midway through the quarter and helped the Panthers maintain their double-digit advantage. The third-year guard went up for the layup before hitting nothing but net for the three and a 58-46 lead. 

The Panthers' offence exploded in the fourth, where they scored 25 points and shot a blistering 61.1 per cent from the field. UPEI would score 17 of the next 21 points, as they came away with the 75-50 win. 

UPEI will host the Memorial Sea-Hawks for two games next weekend, while the Tigers travel to Cape Breton to take on the Capers.