Tigers fall to Panthers

The Dalhousie Tigers fell to the University of Prince Edward Island Panthers with a final score of 94-60 on Saturday at Dalplex.

In the first quarter, Dalhousie started strong with Eva Widmeyer hitting an early 3-pointer at 9:15 to give the team a slight lead. However, the Panthers responded with a series of effective plays, including a pivotal 3-pointer by Devon Lawlor at 5:37, which helped them build momentum. Despite a series of free throws and layups by Sydney Guker-Wickie, who scored a total of 7 points in the quarter, Dalhousie trailed 27-18 by the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Dalhousie's Eva Widmeyer secured an offensive rebound after a missed 3-pointer by Sydney Guker-Wickie, followed by Madelyn White scoring a layup to bring the score to 33-20. Mercy Olugu contributed with a layup at 4:15, marking a moment of offensive success for Dalhousie. Simona Matic added to the score with a successful free throw at 2:32, as Dalhousie continued to demonstrate resilience through rebounds and defensive plays, highlighted by Mercy Olugu's steal and jumper in the final minute, concluding the quarter at 54-31.

In the third quarter, Dalhousie faced a challenging stretch as the Panthers initially extended their lead with a series of successful 3-pointers from Devon Lawlor, including one at 3:52. Despite turnovers and missed opportunities, Dalhousie managed to respond with notable plays from Samantha Manieri and Melina Collins, who secured offensive rebounds, while Sophie Carmichael and Sarah Valley each contributed a 3-pointer, with Carmichael's coming after a full timeout. Although the Panthers maintained control of the scoreboard, Dalhousie showed resilience by scoring 14 points in the quarter, highlighted by Sarah Valley's late 3-pointer followed by a free throw to close the gap slightly.

During the fourth quarter, Dalhousie's Sydney Guker-Wickie started with a successful 3-pointer, assisted by Karina Sarai. Eva Widmeyer contributed with a jumper and two free throws, while Mercy Olugu added to the score with a jumper at the 5:00 mark. Sydney Guker-Wickie continued her strong performance by scoring two more jumpers, and Samantha Manieri closed the quarter with a layup, maintaining parity with the Panthers as both teams scored 15 points in the quarter.

Sydney Guker-Wickie led Dalhousie with 17 points, shooting 6-for-14 from the field, including 1-for-3 from beyond the arc. She also contributed six rebounds and one steal. Mercy Olugu was effective on both ends, scoring seven points, grabbing five rebounds, and leading the team with three steals. Eva Widmeyer added nine points and four rebounds, making 3-of-8 field goals and hitting one 3-pointer. Karina Sarai contributed with five points, five rebounds, and one block, shooting 2-for-5 from the field.