(01/11/24) - Kingston, ON., On the opening night of the 2024/2025 season, the Queen's Women's Basketball team fall to the Windsor Lancer's in a close yet exciting match. With the score never straying past a 12 point deficit, the Gaels demonstrated resilience and a strong glimpse into what is to come this season.
The match opened with the Gaels taking an early five point lead in the first quarter. The Lancer's quickly react back to the Gael's early dominance and score multiple baskets to take the lead 16-14 over the Gaels. Losing the lead early in the first, the Gaels battled for the rest of the game to take back their lead, chasing after the Lancer's on the scoreboard.
Keeping good pace and attack on the court, the Gaels saw a productive first-half, maintaining a close grasp on the Lancer's lead, never letting them take-off offensively. Consistently edging closer to the Lancer's lead, the Gaels created a persistence and urgency on the court, building the continuity of the chase.
The second half opened with the Lancer's leading 35-29. A slight lull in scoring for the Gaels entering the third allowed the Lancer's to create a gap of 10 points. With the score now at 43-33 with 6:30 left in the quarter, the Gaels found their footing on the court and began a momentous stride in closing the score-gap. Preventing the Lancer's from scoring past 43 baskets since the six minute mark, the Gaels show a strong defense in their play as well as a building offensive ground. The third quarter was quick but the scoreboard does not show this as it only increased by 10 shots. In the last few minutes of the third, no. 13
Mikayla McFarlane (Kinesiology) scores a layup to make the score 48-39 going into the fourth - a score distance achievable for the Gaels to close-on.
The Gaels enter the fourth quarter strong as ever, keeping up the mission to take the lead over the prevailing Lancer's. No. 0
Amy Hagman (Kinesiology) scores a three-pointer to close the gap to 50-48 with five minutes left in the game. After another three-pointer sent into the net by no. 4 Belle Gaudet (Commerce), and a foul on McFarlane, who scored both free-throw baskets, the Gaels take the lead 52-53 once again since their initial opening attack in the beginning of the game.
Though the Gaels put up a strong effort to close in on the Lancer's and take back the game, the Lancer's score back-to-back three-pointers to reclaim their lead deep into the fourth after a called time-out. With the score now sitting at 60-53, a backdoor pass by the Lancers advance their lead to 62-56 with 40 seconds left in the game. A Lancer free-throw soon after makes the score 64-56, and the Lancer's win the opening game of the season.
The Gaels are not done for the weekend, as they will seek redemption tomorrow afternoon at their home court of the Queen's ARC, Saturday, November 2nd, at 4:00 PM against the Western Mustangs.
