The UPEI Panthers women's basketball team represents the University of Prince Edward Island in the Atlantic University Sport conference of U Sports women's basketball. The Panthers have the fourth-most Atlantic Conference Championships (six), with their most recent for the 2019–20 season. The 2019–20 team also won the bronze medal at the 2020 U Sports Women's Basketball Championship.
History During the 2019–20 regular season, UPEI finished in first place in AUS play, enjoying a 17–3 record. Jenna Mae Ellsworth emerged as the Panthers top scorer, averaging 20.5 points per game. In addition, Ellsworth averaged 5.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.1 steals per game. By season's end, she reached 1,231 career points, enabling her in a second-place on the Panthers all-time scoring list. Winning the Nann Copp Award, Ellsworth became just the third Atlantic University Sport conference player to be recognized.
In the postseason, the Panthers captured the Subway AUS Women's Basketball Championship, representing its first postseason conference title since the 1997-98 campaign. Qualifying for the U Sports Elite 8, the Panthers were the sixth seed. Defeating the third-seeded Ryerson Rams in the opening round, the Panthers played for the bronze medal. Defeating the Laval Rouge et Or by a 57–50 final, Ellsworth recorded 24 points and nine rebounds in the victory.
U Sports Elite 8 results YearSeedRoundOpponentResult 1987 NA Quarter-FinalsConsolation Semi-Finals5th Place Game Victoria VikettesLaval Rouge et OrToronto Varsity Blues L 60–83W 66–62L 48–60 1988 NA Quarter-FinalsSemi-FinalsBronze Medal Game Toronto Varsity BluesCalgary DinosaursVictoria Vikettes W 66–59L 60–73L 55–60 1989 NA Quarter-FinalsSemi-FinalsGold Medal Game Regina CougarsVictoria VikettesCalgary Dinosaurs W 82–80W 68–58L 55–92 1992 NA Quarter-FinalsConsolation Semi-Finals Victoria VikesManitoba Bisons L 39–69L 71–73 1993 NA Quarter-FinalsConsolation Semi-Finals Winnipeg WesmenToronto Varsity Blues L 80–96L 58–82 1998 NA Quarter-FinalsConsolation Semi-Finals Victoria VikesConcordia Stingers L 52–71L 66–74 2020 #6 First RoundSemi-Finals Bronze Medal Game #3 Ryerson Rams#2 Brock Badgers#4 Laval Rouge et Or W 75–70L 55–69W 57–50
Individual Leader Scoring +Legend GP Games played MIN/G Minutes per game FG/G Field-goals per game PCT Percentage 3PT/G 3-point field-goals per game FT/G Free-throws per game PPG Points per game SeasonPlayerGPMIN/GFG/GPCT3PT/GPCTFT/G PCT PPG AUS rank2019-20 Jenna Mae Ellsworth 17 32.1 7.1-16.1 44.3 1.4-3.9 36.4 4.8-6.3 76.6 20.5 3rd2018-19 Jenna Mae Ellsworth2031.9 5.9-13.4 43.9 0.7-2.6 26.9 4.2-5.2 81.6 16.7 5th2017-18 Kiera Rigby 20 31.7 6.0-13.8 43.5 1.1-3.0 36.7 5.3-6.8 78.1 18.43rd2016-17 Jenna Mae Ellsworth 18 35.9 5.0-11.4 43.7 0.9-2.8 34.0 3.2-4.2 76.0 14.15th
Awards and honours Jenna Mae Ellsworth would win the 2020 Nan Copp Award, recognizing U Sports Player of the Year. During the same month, Ellsworth was also named to the list of the Top 100 U Sports Women's Basketball Players of the Century (2011–2020).
AUS Awards 2019-20 AUS Female Athlete of the Year: Jenna Mae Ellsworth
Player of the Year 1985-86 Paula Edwards 1998-99 Jennifer Johnston 2020 AUS Player of the Year: Jenna Mae Ellsworth
Defensive Player of the Year 2017-18: Carolina Del Santo, UPEI 2018-19: Carolina Del Santo 2019-20: Jenna Mae Ellsworth
Rookie of the Year 1984-85 Paula Edwards 2016-17 Jenna Mae Ellsworth 2017-18 Reese Baxendale
Student-Athlete Community Service Award 2017-18: Kiera Rigby
Tracey MacLeod Award Nominee 2013-14: Jenna Jones 2017-18: Jane McLaughlin
Regular Season Scoring Champions 2006-07: M.A. Campbell, (17.7 PPG) 1998-99: Jennifer Johnston, (20.1 PPG)
Coach of the Year The Coach of the Year in Atlantic University Sport is given the Carolyn Savoy Trophy 1980-81: George Morrison Co-winner 1983-84: Dave MacNeill 1985-86 Dave MacNeill 1986-87 Dave MacNeill 1987-88: Dave MacNeill 1991-92: Dave MacNeill 1992-93: Dave MacNeill 1996-97: Tracy Ellsworth
AUS All-Stars First Team 2017-18 AUS First Team All-Star: Kiera Rigby 2019-20 AUS First Team All-Star: Jenna Mae Ellsworth, Reese Baxendale
Second Team 2018-19 AUS Second Team All-Star: Jenna Mae Ellsworth 2017-18 AUS Second Team All-Star: Jenna Mae Ellsworth 2016-17 AUS Second Team All-Star: Jenna Mae Ellsworth
AUS All-Rookie Team 2016-17 All-Rookie team: Jenna Mae Ellsworth 2017-18 Reese Baxendale
Tournament All-Stars 2017-18 AUS Women's Basketball Championship All-Star: Reese Baxendale 2017-18 AUS Women's Basketball Championship All-Star: Jenna Mae Ellsworth 2020 Subway AUS Women's Basketball Championship All-Tournament Team: Jenna Mae Ellsworth, Reese Baxendale (Tournament MVP)
U Sports Awards 2020 Nan Copp Award: Jenna Mae Ellsworth Top 100 U Sports women's basketball Players of the Century (1920–2020): Jenna Mae Ellsworth 2017-18 U Sports Sylvia Sweeney Community Service Award: Kiera Rigby
U Sports National Tournament Nike Top Performers - March 8, 2020 - Bronze Medal Game: UPEI vs. Laval - UPEI: Reese Baxendale
All-Canadian 2019-20 U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian: Jenna Mae Ellsworth
University Awards PEI Panthers Passion for Life Award (in memory of former UPEI soccer player Rene Ayangma) 2016-17: Kiera Rigby
PEI Panthers Female Athlete of the Year 2014-15: Amy Gough 2015-16: Katelynn Donahoe Co-winner 2017-18: Kiera Rigby 2019-20: Jenna Mae Ellsworth
J.T. 'Mickey' Place Awards Presented by the UPEI Student Union to student-athletes who have made a contribution to student leadership on their team and on campus.
2014-15: Darcy Zinck 2015-16: Katie Donahoe 2016-17: Kiera Rigby 2017-18: 2018-19: Carolina Del Santo
Most Valuable Player 2014-15: Amy Gough 2015-16: Katie Donahoe 2016-17: Kiera Rigby 2017-18: 2018-19: Jenna Mae Ellsworth
Rookie of the Year 2015-16: Kendra Craswell and Jennifer Newman 2016-17: Jenna Mae Ellsworth 2017-18: Reese Baxendale 2018-19: Carolina Del Santo
PEI Panthers Hall of Fame 2001 inductee: Paula Edwards 2002 inductee: UPEI Women's Basketball team 1988-1989 2003 inductee: Tracy MacEachern 2012 inductee: Jennifer Johnston
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