(24/01/25) - Kingston, ON., In a nail-biting finale, the Queen's Gaels Women's Basketball team fall 58-56 against the TMU Bold, which closes out their 12-game win streak. The Gaels struggled in the second and third to offensively operate against the Bold's strong defense, but saw a burst of momentum in the fourth with 16 points making it an exciting finish until the final seconds of the game. No. 12 Katrina Renon (Arts and Sciences) shot 10 of 16 scored in the fourth and brought the Gaels back in contention with a win within reach. In the end, the Bolds victory game down to three free-throws scored in the last 14 seconds. The Bold are first in the OUA West with a 10-4 record, while the Gaels sit at third place in the OUA East with a 12-2 record. With both teams evenly matched, the game only saw a lead no greater than a 10-point difference. 

The game began with TMU scoring the first bucket with a slow offensive start for both teams. TMU's strong defense would prove to be a point of struggle for the Gaels throughout the game, hindering their ability to put up their usual number of points. Halfway through the first, Renon scores the first three-pointer of the game, tying the game at 6-6. The Gaels chased after a slim Bold lead throughout the first. With two free-throws good by no. 13 Mikayla McFarlane (Kinesiology), scoring 14 points for the evening, the Gaels come within 2 points of a lead. A three by no. 0 Amy Hagman (Kinesiology) brings the score to 15-14. The Bold found some momentum pulling away from the Gaels 20-14 as the first quarter came to an end. The 11 fouls-called in the first quarter is telling of the physicality of the game.

Hagman opened the second with a second three from the arch. Proving strong at the free-throw line, the Bold continued their lead 31-25. With not much luck for the Gaels forwards in the second, the Gaels point-guards proved productive while the team re-figured their strategy against the Bold.  In the final minutes of the first half, McFarlane and Hussey hit three's that bring the Gaels back into close contention 31-36. The first half ends with Hussey leading the Gaels in points with a total of 13. The Bold lead in rebounds 19 to 13.

The third quarter opened with no. 5 Ally Smith (Kinesiology) bringing the score within five points after a layup, although the Bold quickly saw an offensive drive that pushed the score to 46-36. McFarlane scored two layups, bringing her to 11 points so far in the game, and cut the Bold lead to eight. The third quarter closed with the Bold leading by 10 points 50-40. Hussey, who had been an offensive force throughout the first two quarters, was shut-out in the third.

Renon exploded in the fourth and was a driving force for the momentum found by the Gaels with 10 minutes left in the game. Two good free-throws and a three by Renon allows the Gaels to come back within three of the Bold, 50-47. Another by Renon two from the foul line brings the the Gaels within one - the closest the Gaels have been to finding a lead since the first, a lead which Hussey found after a layup with 5:30 left. The game went back-and-forth on points and time-outs-taken until the closing seconds of the game. A free-throw by Renon gave the Gaels a lead once more, although the Bold managed to find two more points, finishing the game 58-56. 

The Gaels Women's Basketball team look to their next game against the Brock Badgers on Saturday, January 25th at 4:00 PM, live from the Queen's Atheletic and Recreation Center, where the Gaels with be playing in the annual Shoot for the Cure Game which raises funds and awareness for the Canadian Cancer Society (CSS) and breast cancer research. Find out more here: https://gogaelsgo.com/news/2025/1/14/general-queens-womens-basketball-hosting-annual-shoot-for-the-cure-game-saturday-against-brock