Roper nets 25 points as X-Women beat Panthers

Charlottetown, PE – The X-Women basketball team squeaked out a 69-66 victory over the UPEI Panthers Friday night in AUS action. The win was worth four points in the standings and lifted the X-Women (10-9) into a second place tie with Cape Breton (11-9).

Both the Capers and X-Women have 34 points with StFX still having one game remaining to play in the regular season. A win at Fredericton over UNB tomorrow night will secure sole possession of second place for StFX and clinch a first round bye in the AUS championship slated for March 7-9 at UPEI. A StFX loss would give second place to Cape Breton as they hold a 3-1 record over the X-Women in head-to-head play this season. The Capers have no games remaining to play.

Friday night's affair in PEI was a close one as the Panthers held a 13-11 lead after the first quarter, then the X-Women were up 31-27 at halftime after outscoring the home team 20-14 in the second quarter.

That would prove to be the difference as UPEI held a 39-38 edge in the second half of play though the X-Women were able to hang on for the key win.

Third year post Kolbi Roper lead the X-Women with a game-high 25 points. She also had 7 rebounds. Fifth year veteran Lia St. Pierre scored 15 and had 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals.

Freshman Kim Taylor scored 11 off the bench for the X-Women and added 7 rebounds and a block, while Rebecca Sheehan netted 8 points, and contributed 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals and a block. Lindsay Lessard pulled in 8 boards and had 6 points.

Replying for the Panthers was Amy Gough with a double-double effort scoring 13 points and pulling in 10 rebounds. Laura Power scored 10 and Katelynn Donahoe added 9 points.

The X-Women will wrap up AUS regular season play Saturday night in Fredericton in a 6:00 pm game against the eighth place UNB Varsity Reds (5-14) in another four-point match.