The injury-ridden Carleton Ravens women’s basketball team headed out on the road for the first time last weekend, recording their first loss and third win of the season.
The Ravens fell to the Wilfred Laurier University Golden Hawks 59-51 Nov. 12, but defeated the University of Waterloo Warriors 59-42 the following night.
Ravens head coach Taffe Charles said lack of execution and inexperience were the team’s reason for defeat against the Golden Hawks.
“We weren’t doing what we needed to do execution-wise,” he said. “We didn’t follow our game plan defensively early and then because of that we got into foul trouble with our main players.”
“It really boils down to the experience factor,” Charles continued. “We just didn’t have as much experience in the people we had to play because of the foul trouble.”
The team’s depth was also compromised by injuries, which have plagued the Ravens so far this season. Veteran guard Courtney Smith is out with a torn MCL, and second-year guard Jennifer Stoqua is nursing a possible broken foot.
“We’re pretty banged up,” Charles said.
These injuries cut the Ravens bench to just nine players against the Warriors Nov. 13, and left the court wide open for the rookies to perform.
Rookies Darcy Hawkins, Genavieve Melatti, and Krista Van Slingerland all played at least 20 minutes, and each contributed to the Ravens’ win. Van Slingerland and Hawkins both recorded eight points, and Melatti added six.
“We went with a lot of the younger kids,” Charles said. “We got them some much-needed experience. It’s tough in terms of them trying to learn on the job but I think they’re capable of [doing so].”
The Ravens led by one after the first quarter, but lost focus in the second, allowing the Warriors to outscore them 17-7. At the half, the Ravens trailed by nine. Not to be outdone, however, the Ravens held the Warriors to only 12 points during the second half while recording 38 points of their own.
Fourth-year forward Ashleigh Cleary finished with a game-high 17 points.
“Ashleigh and [fifth-year guard] Alyson Bush are two of our veterans and when they’re on their game, they’re tough to play against,” Charles said. “Ashleigh had a really good game and Alyson’s just a presence. She makes the team a little bit more calm in terms of what needs to happen out there.”
Despite trailing by nine at the half, Charles said the Ravens were in control throughout the game.
“Waterloo’s a rebuilding team,” he said. “They don’t have a lot of experience and in this league, experience counts for a lot.”
As for his own team’s experience, Charles said that there is still work to be done.
“Our experience level is not where it needs to be. Obviously we can’t make excuses because other teams aren’t going to feel sorry for our situation. We’re battling some nagging injuries and we don’t go very deep,” he acknowledged.
“We're asking a lot of our rookies, but that’s what needs to happen at this point.”