(02/11/24) - Kingston, ON., Saturday afternoon, the Queen's Women's Basketball team defeated the 1-2 Western Mustangs, claiming their first win of the regular season. The exciting game saw the Gaels take a stride early on in the game, and maintaining the lead throughout despite the Mustangs persistent attempt to defeat the Gaels on their home court of the Queen's ARC.
The Western Mustangs were first to add points to the scoreboard with a three-pointer within the first 15 seconds after tip-off, although the Gaels battled back and established their dominance early on. No. 4 Bella Gaudet (Commerce) who scored a total of 26 points for the Gaels this match, and 24 the game prior, gives the Gaels the lead 5-3 by sinking a three-pointer.
The early minutes of the 1st quarter saw the lead shift back and forth between the two teams, though Gaudet ties the game with a layup, and another 2-points by no. 1 Haley Barbieri (Arts and Sciences), takes the lead away from the Mustangs for the remainder of the game. With this, the Gaels go on a seven point breakaway from the Mustangs, strengthening their lead and building momentum for the game. After three minutes of no points added to the scoreboard, Western makes a three-pointer. Gaudet retaliates quickly with a shot from the arch, making the score 20-18 in the last seconds of the opening quarter. After a foul taken on no. 13 Mikayla McFarlane (Kinesiology), two free-throw shots give the Gaels a 22-18 lead going into the second.
Looking to take back a lead found early in the first, the Mustangs score first, though the Gaels respond like clock-work, adding five points to their lead with a layup and three-pointer both scored by no, 12 Katrina Renon (Arts and Sciences). The second half was an offensive spectacle for the Gaels, scoring 27 shots on net compared to the Mustangs 11. This grew their lead to 20 points going into the third. The Gaels forced their way through the Mustangs defense, creating a confident lead using the momentum found in the first. Gaudet impressively shot a total of 19 points for the Gaels in the second, helping the Gaels secure a 49-29 lead at the end of the first half of the game.
The second half saw a slower scoring pace for the Gaels, as it seemed the Mustangs figured out their game-play over the half-time break. Renon is first to score in the third quarter with a layup, although three minutes into the quarter the score-gap began to close at 51-36 as Western found the momentum they had been lacking. The game sees a lull in the Gaels scoring as the Mustangs cut the once 20-point lead into 10 points only halfway through the third.
No. 21 Brooke Hussey (Kinesiology) finds the stride the Gaels had struggled to maintain and breaks the pause in scoring by sinking a layup, making the score 55-46. Heading into the fourth quarter, the Gaels hang on to their lead with the score of 55-51, as the Mustangs keep heavy pressure on the Gaels.
The fourth opens with a battle to sink the ball in front of the Mustangs net, although the Mustangs get the first sinker, closing even further on the Gaels lead of 55-54. With the match now one point away from shifting in its leader, after the Gaels once owning a 20 point lead, Gaudet steps up at the arch and scores a three-pointer to give the Gaels back their confidence. Another three by Gaudet earns the score 61-55, then Barbieri quickly solidify's their scoring stamina with a jumper, progressing the Gaels lead by 4 points.
With a layup and a free-throw by Renon, the Gaels enter the final minute of the game at 67-59. Nine minutes left in the game, a foul on McFarlane allows her to sink two free-throws. She makes the first, then the second, and the game ends in a 71-66 victory for the Gaels.
Catch the Gael's Women's Basketball team in action again on November 8th, at 6:00 PM, against the Algoma Thunderbirds on OUA.TV.
