OTTAWA – The Ryerson Rams women's basketball team left it all on the floor in the national quarter-final at the U SPORTS Final 8 but ultimately came up short, falling 75-70 to the UPEI Panthers.

Ryerson trailed by one at halftime but erupted for 28 points in the third to take a ten point advantage into the final quarter. The Panthers flipped the script, however, piling up 29 points of their own in the fourth to overtake the Rams down the stretch.

Prince Edward Island's defence stepped up in the fourth, limiting Ryerson to two points through the first eight minutes of the frame. With time winding down the Rams were able to connect on some long distance shots to get within three points with 15 seconds left, but the Panthers iced the game with a pair of free throws.

"They changed their defensive matchup which disrupted our offensive rhythm a little bit, and that changed our flow and we struggled to get good shots," said Rams head coach Carly Clarke. 
 
The teams took the opening ten minutes to feel each other out, and the squads exchanged the lead before Marin Scotten (Ottawa, Ont.) hit a buzzer beater to give the Rams a 14-13 advantage heading to the second.

In the second, UPEI opened up a six point lead at 27-21 but the Rams outscored the Panthers 7-2 in the final minutes to make it a one point 29-28 Panthers advantage at the half.

Scotten led the Rams' charge in the third, scoring 17 of her 31 points in the frame. She was a threat from all over the court, connecting from long range while also crashing the glass and picking up offensive put backs. Ryerson's 28 point quarter lifted them to a 56-46 advantage before the offence dried up in the fourth.

UPEI started the fourth quarter on a 12-2 run to erase the 10 point deficit they faced, and with all the momentum the Panthers never let up. The AUS champions built an 11 point lead with 1:35 to play and despite Ryerson's best efforts to get back within reach, time expired on the Rams comeback.

"It seemed we got a flow going but then our shots weren't dropping and they started hitting shots and playing good defence and we couldn't get what we wanted," said Scotten post game. "It's definitely disappointing, (but) I'm grateful to have spent such an amazing season with a great group of girls. We still have the chance to end on a high note, we still play tomorrow… so I'm disappointed but ready to move on."

The Rams will be back in action on Friday afternoon in a national consolation semifinal against the loser of the Brock/Calgary quarter-final. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m. from Carleton's Ravens' Nest.