Volume 7, Number 21:

by Matthew Beards- ley

The UPEI Mens’ and Ladies’ Basket- ball Panthers opened the new Canada Games Field- house with performances be- fitting the spectacular new facility in which they will now play.

The weekend was a to- tal success ,on all accounts except one. In the first game Saturday night the Dalhousie Tigers spoiled the party for the Lady Panthers with a late game rally to win 64-58: The game was ev- erything anyone could hope for. The new. fieldhouse which seats just slightly over 1400 was jammed full for

the game. Minutes before tip-off, the bleachers were full and the track above the seating area which can acco- modate 200 people Standing Room full with people lined up past the dividing curtain.

Lady Panther captain Su- san Knickle was the first player to score in the new fieldhouse when she nailed two free-throws. _ Next trip down the court, Paula Edwards drained a _ three- pointer to give the Lady Panthers a 5-0 lead.

Dalhousie refused to fold under the impressing cir- cumstances as they slowed down the pace and patiently ran out their offense. Na- tional team member Angie MacLeod was the big gun for Dal as she scored 27 points to pace the Tigers. MacLeod used her height

advantage over the smaller

Panther guards to drive and shoot over them. Not all of her points were easy as many were tough under pressure and from far out.

The Lady Panthers con-

The Student Voice of University of Prince Edward Island

UPEI Opens Fieldhouse in Style

tinued to have trouble run- -ning a set offense and their outside game has not yet come around. As was the case the last game between the two teams, the Lady Panthers shot a paltry 33% from the floor. Their offense in the first half consisted of Susan Knickle driving to the hoop and the tough in- side work of Paula Edwards. Lori Knickle was forced to sit out most of the first half as she picked up some early fouls. Dalhousie led at the half 30-27.

In the early going of the second half, Dalhousie con- tinued to press and threat- ened to open up the game. Then the 1700 plus in at- tendance began to make their presence known. Roar- ing, stomping, screaming de- fense, the fans tried to lift up the Lady Panthers. Susan Knickle then siezed matters into her own hands and be- gan to bring the Lady Pan- thers back. Diving, slash- ing, she worked her way in- side, scoring from seemingly impossible angles and posi- tions.

Knickle gave UPEI its longest lead on a play that would prove to be the differ- ence in the game a few min- utes later. She drove the lane from the left, threw up a double pump layup, and was fouled in the process. The crowd roared to its feet and Knickle exchanged high fives with her teammates. She made the free-throw to give her team a 7-point lead and the game seemed to be well in control.

Then disaster struck. Knickle again drove the lane, only this time the Dal defender was a step ahead of Knickle. She held her

ground and Susan plowed

UPEI’s Trevor Wilock (24) skied to grab rebound over Acadia’s Ted Byrne (32) looking on is Mark Cameron (11) left, Dave Dunn (33) far left

and Kevin Venoit, obscured.

into her, the two players hit- ting the floor as the whistle sounded. Then as the play- ers looked towards the ref- eree, the obvious was called.

The crowd groaned as Susan Knickle’s fifth foul was sig-

nalled.. A distraught mur--

mur went through the crowd ! as the Lady Panthers would | be without their leader for the four final minutes of the game.

Dalhousie wasted little time as they went straight'

Thursday, February 15, 1999

at the Lady Panthers who seemed a little lost without Knickle on the floor. The Lady Panthers were also hampered by the loss of Lori Knickle fouled out minutes earlier. Then problems con- tinued at the offensive end of the floor as they were un- able to get the ball inside to Paula Edwards, who may have been able to right their fastly sinking ship. Edwards put together a remarkable game as she scored 16 points and handed down a game-

high 17 rebounds.

The Tigers scored 15 points over the final four minutes to win the game and put the Lady Panthers plans to host a fifth AUAA championship on ice; the loss drops the Lady Panthers to third place and gives the UNB Red Bloomers a firm hold on first place. Bar- ring some huge upset, the Red Bloomers should host the AUAA playoffs.

continued on page 3...

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