SUDBURY, Ont. (January 4th, 2019) – The Queen's Gaels (8-3) defeated the Laurentian Voyageurs (3-8) 63-46 on Friday night in the Gaels first OUA matchup of 2019.
 
GAME FLOW
The Gaels opened up their second half of the season in Sudbury, looking to improve on their strong 7-3 record to start out the season. Although the opening of the first quarter was low scoring and tightly contested, the Gaels would find their shooting touch as the period went on, storming away on a late quarter 14-3 run and taking a 23-13 lead into the 2nd.^.         
 
Laurentian responded well in the second quarter but was only able to chip away one point from the Gaels lead as they headed to the half at 39-30. Leading the way for the Gaels in the first half was Veronika Lavergne with eight points and Sophie de Goede with six rebounds. The Gaels shot 44.8% from the field in the first half in comparison to Laurentian's 36% and scored 12 points in the paint in comparison to Laurentian's four. 
 
The Voyageurs opened the 3rd quarter on an 8-2 run, closing to within three points. Throughout the 3rd quarter, the Gaels struggled to expose Laurentian's small-ball approach in the same way they had in the first half, although the Gaels would eventually re-extend the lead to seven points as they headed to the final frame.
 
Both teams struggled to score the ball in the 4th quarter as the game was inundated with fouls and turnovers.  The Queen's defence would completely stifle the Laurentian offence as the Voyageurs were held to two baskets in the final quarter, shooting 2-19 overall and 0-11 from three. The Gaels would eventually cruise to a comfortable 63-46 victory.

Leading the way for the Gaels was Lavergne with 13 points and de Goede with nine rebounds. 

SEASON DEBUT
Sophie de Goede made her basketball season debut for the Gaels after missing the first half while playing for the women's rugby team and recovering from injury.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
52 – The Gaels collected 52 rebounds, out-rebounding Laurentian by twenty.
83.3% - The Voyageurs shot an impressive eighty-three percent from the free-throw line.
23– The Gaels produced twenty-three bench points in comparison to the Voyageur's nine.
24– The Gaels took advantage of their size, scoring twenty-four points in the paint. 
 
UP NEXT
Next up, the Gaels take on the Nipissing Lakers in North Bay on Saturday January 5th at 6 pm. Watch it online at OUA.tv.