KINGSTON, Ont. (Jan. 13, 2024) - Julia Chadwick made Queen's Women's Basketball history Saturday night, breaking the program record for both points, with 43, and rebounds, with 27, in a spectacular performance in the Gaels' 95-53 win over the York Lions at the Athletics and Recreation Centre (ARC).
Chadwick (Ottawa, Ont.) topped Brittany Moore's previous Queen's single-game record for points of 40, set in 2009 against the RMC Paladins. Gaels Head Coach Claire Meadows has the third highest single-game total for points at Queen's, with 37, set in the 2006-07 season against the Windsor Lancers. Chadwick previously held the Gaels' single-game record for rebounds as well, with 22 set in the 2022-23 season against the Laurier Golden Hawks, and is also tied for the third highest single-game rebound total with Sophie de Goede, with 21.
In a dynamic start, Queen's showcased their speed and skill, maintaining a consistent lead throughout the quarter. The Gaels' offensive mastery was highlighted by a three-pointer in the final minute, concluding the quarter with a score of 22-11.
Building on their early success, Queen's extended their lead to a commanding 20 points, reaching a halftime score of 46-26. The team's cohesive performance continued to dominate the court.
Despite a resilient effort from the York Lions, they proved to be no match for the formidable Queen's Gaels. The third quarter closed with Queen's maintaining a substantial lead at 62-40. Queen's would go on to outperform York in rebounds, recording 50 in comparison to York's 32. The statistics also showcase Queen's versatility, with six fastbreak points and 22 bench points compared to York's 0 and three, respectively.
Two other Gaels players scored in double digits in the win, with Mikayla McFarlane (Kingston, Ont.) finishing with 15 points and seven rebounds, and Laura Donovan (Ottawa, Ont.) adding 11 points and five assists.
In a post-game interview, Meadows spoke to the team dynamic stating that the team understands each other so well, which translates on the court. "Having a consistent scorer like Julia Chadwick on the team doesn't happen often," Meadows said. "When they see she is feeling it, the team rallies around that. They want to give her the ball and let her go to work."
When asked about how the team plans to move forward, Meadows stated, "We're putting emphasis on the present, getting ready to play TMU on Friday."
With the win, their record improved to 12-2. The Gaels are back in action Jan. 16 , taking on the TMU Bold in Toronto, Ont.
