VANCOUVER — The Carleton Ravens’ path to a national title defensee kicked off with a dominating 71-44 win over the Bishop’s Gaiters, securing a hotly anticipated semifinal rematch with the uOttawa Gee-Gees.
The back-to-back national champions were stunned by their crosstown rivals last week, but a physical quarterfinal battle with Bishop’s set them back on track, fifth-year guard Noelle Kilbreath said.
“It was a step in the right direction after last weekend, we’re super motivated to compete hard,” she said. “There’s nothing more motivating than a loss, especially one like that.”
Head coach Dani Sinclair, who earned her first U Sports coach of the year honours the day prior, was pleased to see her team play as a cohesive unit, even as the offence faltered at times.
“We followed the game plan defensively and won the rebounding battle and got some good contributions from different people,” Sinclair said.
The Ravens benefitted from double-digit performances from Teresa Donato (20), Dorcas Buisa (17) and Tatyanna Burke (15). U Sports second-team all-Canadian Jacqueline Urban only managed four points, but picked up nine rebounds and two assists.
Holding a 56-42 rebounding edge over the Gaiters made a huge difference for Carleton, as the Ravens’ shooting was often “not in rhythm,” according to Sinclair.
“We’re focused on trying to score and as a result, we’re super tight and missing layups or taking off-balanced shots or just not being in rhythm,” she said. “We need to clean that up.”
The Ravens held a double-digit lead over Bishop’s for the majority of the game, but the Gaiters were unable to muster any of the magic that helped them to an RSEQ championship win over the Laval Rouge et Or. U Sports first-team all-Canadian Victoria Gauna was largely silenced offensively with just seven points, while the Gaiters’ overmatched depth struggled to pick up the pieces.
Carleton won’t be able to count on uOttawa to make the same mistakes, especially with the Gee-Gees’ Natsuki Szczokin leading the way. Sinclair said her team can learn from the first-team all-Canadian, who dominated the Ravens in the Critelli Cup final with her MVP performance.
“What she did in the last game as a fifth-year player, she made everyone else around her better, and that’s something that we’re gonna need from our team,” Sinclair said.
Last season, it was Kali Pocrnic who held a similar role in elevating her teammates, but Sinclair insisted that improvement this time around will have to come from the team as a whole.
“It’s not about individual performances, it’s team performance, team defence and people making other people better,” Sinclair said. “[uOttawa] bested us last game because they were able to do that.”
With a day off before their semifinal showdown, the Ravens bench boss said there will be no leisure time spent in Vancouver, even on an uncharacteristically sunny Thursday afternoon.
“Practising, sleeping, eating, recovery — no sightseeing,” Sinclair said, chuckling. “They can take a vacation back [in Vancouver] if they like to.”
After an undefeated regular season, the Ravens aren’t necessarily a team that is used to having their backs against the wall, but their March 15 semifinal will be just that.
“If that’s the adversity that we’re faced with, to regroup and be better and have a little bit more ammunition going into the next game, then so be it,” Sinclair said.
“There’s gonna be a lot of emotions on both sides.”
Featured photo courtesy of Carleton Ravens.
