(25/01/25) - Kingston, ON., The Queen's Gaels Women's Basketball team win a nail-biting battle against the 11-4 Brock Badgers that saw the Gaels down throughout the game until the latter half of the fourth quarter when they exploded at the net. The Gaels never strayed from contention against the Badgers who are ranked second in the OUA West, as no. 12 Katrina Renon (Arts and Sciences) with 17 points for the evening and no. 21 Brooke Hussey (Kinesiology) with 15 kept an offensive pressure on their opponents. No. 13 Mikayla McFarlane was a crucial part to the momentous burst seen in the fourth quarter where she scored 7 points out of her 11 for the evening. After falling to the TMU Bold the evening prior, the Gaels needed this game to maintain momentum through their dominant season going into the upcoming playoffs season. 

With both teams seeing almost identical records on the season so far, a back-and-forth battled ensued on the Queen's ARC court. The game opened with the Badgers scoring first which was quickly matched after Hussey intercepted a pass giving her a breakaway to get one in the hoop. Back to back buckets from Hussey keep the Gaels not far behind the Badgers in the opening minutes. Pressure and strong defense by the Gaels kept the score in the opening quarter to a close 15-12 Badgers-lead. When asked what the Gaels looked to focus on throughout the match against the Badgers, McFarlane said the teams goal was to control the controllables - finding rebounds, box outs, and matching a strong defense to that of the Badgers. Also, reflecting on their season and where they stand aided to refocus the team after the previous evenings tough loss just shy of two buckets from TMU. 

Hussey comes off the bench to score a three-pointer, bringing the Gaels within one. The Gaels were unable to grab hold of a lead throughout the second although they kept right on the tail of the Badgers staying only a basket or two away. The Gaels shared the efforts in the second as points were pretty even across the board for the starters and no. 6 Vobia Kalome (Arts and Sciences). A layup by no. 5 Ally Smith (Kinesiology) brings the Gaels within two 27-29 closing out the first half.

The third quarter sang the same as the first two quarters as the Gaels stayed closed to taking a lead. The Badgers froze the Gaels in the opening minutes back from the locker room but Renon scores a layup and a three from the arch to bring the team back into action 32-33. Renon scored 7 of her 17 in the third. The Gaels were once again frozen by the Badgers in the final minutes until Kalome hits a layup which brings the Gaels back to 10 points behind, 36-46. With quick feet, Hussey finds a second breakaway in the last ten seconds to finish the third back only four points, 46-42. 

In a turn of events, the fourth is where the Gaels found their winning momentum. McFarlane put up seven beginning with a three which brought the Gaels only down one. When asked about her success in the fourth, McFarlane attested her luck at the hoop to the energy of her teammates and swift passes of the ball. McFarlane said focusing on not giving up if the ball did not sink and building on her teams energy was key to the momentum found in the fourth. 

A three by Renon gave the Gaels their first lead of the game. This bucket changed the momentum of the game for the Gaels as no. 0 Amy Hagman (Kinesiology) scores from the arch with a minute and change left to go. With .9 seconds left Hussey shoots two from the foul line, taking the Gaels 63-57 over the Badgers. The game closed with the score of 63-59. 

Catch the Gaels Women's Basketball team as they take on the Ottawa Gee-Gee's on Friday, January 31st, at 6:00 PM. The game will be live-streamed on OUA.TV so make sure to follow along with the Gaels exciting season.