(15/11/24) - Waterloo, ON., In a close game throughout the entire 40 minutes, the Queen's Women's Basketball team are victorious over the Waterloo Warriors.  With a short bench, the Gaels close out their Friday night game 50-43.  No. 10 Ella Take (Arts and Sciences) lead the game with 18 points, and no. 13 Mikayla McFarlane (Kinesiology) followed close behind her with 12.  With this game in their pocket, the Gaels hold the season record of 3-2, and the Warriors 2-4.  

The Warriors were first to mark-up the score-sheet but the Gaels were quick to retaliate as Take scores a jump shot.  The Gaels lead the first 12-4 and freeze the Warriors.  Opening strong, the Gaels are notably the more productive team in front of the net and in defensive plays.  Applying pressure, the Gaels contested their opponents on every move, maintaining their early lead.  McFarlane began the game by leading in points, and scores a two pointer to close the end of the first with the Gaels leading 16-9.  

Yet again, the Warriors opened the quarter scoring on the Gaels, but this did not break the Gaels momentum they built in the first.  Extending their lead to 24-15, the Gaels demonstrated a strong ability to capitalize offensively when the Warriors made mistakes or showed their gaps.  Take passed McFarlane in points during the second and did not look back.  At 25-15, the Gaels froze the Warriors, and a timeout is taken at the home bench to reevaluate.  With no luck for the Warriors, Take shoots a three straight off the bench with 4:30 left in the second.  The second ends with the Gaels in the lead, 29-17, also leading the scoring for the quarter 13 to 8.

McFarlane was a fierce competitor all game, making back to back two's to secure an 11 point lead of 33-22 - breaking a Gaels lull in scoring.  The Gaels are offensively dominant over the Warriors, though the Warriors had good strategy when blocking Gaels shots on net.  The third ended with the score of 41-34.  The Warriors managed to make a bit of a comeback on the Gaels lead, as they outscored the Gaels 12 to 17.

A reverse shot by McFarlane proves the Gaels still have a hold on the strong momentum they had built up throughout the game, as the Gaels offense had the upper hand over the Warriors defense.  A floater by no. 21 Brooke Hussey (Kinesiology) deepens the Gaels lead to 45-34 as the game reached its final minutes.  A five point game with only three minutes left, a two-pointer by Take and two free throws by Hussey secure teh score of 48-42 with 30 seconds left.  A final free throw by no. 5 Ally Smith (Kinesiology) brings the score to a final 50-43.  Both teams scored a total of nine points in the fourth quarter.

Make sure to catch the Gaels Women's Basketball team as they take on the Laurier Golden Hawks on November 16th, at 6:00 PM, on OUA.TV.