(16/11/24) - Waterloo, ON., The Queen's Women's Basketball team defeat the Laurier Golden Hawks in a 15 point victory of 57-42, as the girls go on a four-game win tear adding two on their weekend away in Waterloo. Without a loss since the first two games of the season, the Gaels sit at third in the OUA East standings, only one game away from the Univerity of Ottawa Gee-gee's.
The Gaels started the game off strong with a lead of 12-10 in the first quarter. The Hawks did a good job of reading Gaels offensive plays, although finding opportunities at net themselves seemed to be a struggle. Scoring begins with no. 5
Ally Smith (Kinesiology) scoring a layup followed by two free-throws drained by no. 10
Ella Take (Arts and Sciences). For the majority of the game, these two Gaels carried the team in points. The Gaels kept Laurier scoreless until halfway into the first quarter and took a lead of 10 over the Hawks. The Hawks found their footing in the latter half of the quarter and chased the Gaels lead to tie it with 30 seconds left. No. 21
Brooke Hussey (Kinesiology), who is tied at eight with no. 13
Mikayla McFarlane (Kinesiology) for third most points for the Gaels, scores a two-pointer to secure the Gaels a tight lead of 12-10 going into the second.
The Hawks opened the second strong and took over the scoreboard with the lead of 15-12. The Gaels are frozen by the Hawks halfway through the second, down by five points, and unable to sink the ball. The Gaels trailed the Hawks in a nine point deficit of 24-15 with a minute left, although Smith drains a jumper and two good free-throws to bring the Gaels to a five point trail at the end of the first half.
The second half of the game saw the Hawks maintain their lead, although choked quickly in the fourth as the Gaels began to consecutively sink three's after struggling throughout the game on the arch. The Gaels closed the scoring gap to 28-25 four minutes into the third, but Hawks's no. 10 Kate White (leader in points for the evening with 19) expanded the Hawks lead once again to 31-23. The Gaels did not hand over the game to the Hawks just yet, as they make a comeback of 12 points with three layups by Hussey, no. 7
Bree Bourget (Kinesiology), and no. 12
Katrina Renon (Arts and Sciences), then a three by Bourget, ties the game at 35 to 35 going into the last quarter. The Gaels outscore the Hawks 15 to 10 in the third, finding their confidence once again after a tough second quarter.
The Gaels really found their momentum in the fourth quarter as they scored 22 points to the seven produced by the Hawks. Renon began the slew of scoring with a three from the arch only 30 seconds into the quarter. The Gaels maintained a quick pace throughout the fourth which culminated to their offensive capitalization. The Gaels take the lead of 41-39 for the first time since the end of the first after another three from no. 0
Amy Hagman (Kinesiology) in sunk in the Hawks net. After a jumper by Hussey, the Gaels dominate with a 10 point lead with just over four minutes left in the game. Forcing a turnover in their own end, McFarlane scored a layup to make it 54-40. Hagman drains the last basket for the Gaels with 56 seconds left, and the Gaels walk away with a 15 point victory over the Hawks, 57-42.
Catch the Gaels Women's Basketball next on November 22, at 6:00 PM, on their home court of the Queen's Atheletics and Recreation Center.
