The Carleton Ravens women’s basketball will be returning to action Jan. 9 against the rival University of Ottawa Gee-Gees.
The Ravens went into the break on a three-game win streak that ended with them upsetting the top-seeded Ryerson Rams. They finished 2014 with a record of 5-3 after a back-and-forth start, but found their rhythm by the end.
The Ravens have a younger team than they have had in previous years, but forward Lindsay Shotbolt said she believes they are still finding success.
“I think we’re working really well together but even though we have a few losses, beating Ryerson really should give us the confidence to come into January and February,” she said.
The Ravens have found their biggest strength to be rebounds, ranked second in the Ontario University Athletics with a +14.6 rebound margin per game.
Third-year forward Lindsey Suprunchuk has a team-high 13.8 points per game and 8.8 rebounds per game, while Shotbolt averages 12.9 points per game and 11 rebounds.
“I think rebounding is a huge factor, because if we out-rebound teams the majority of the time we’re going to win,” she said.
“Physically we definitely use our size. A lot of teams go smaller cause we have two posts whereas most teams have one,” Ravens second-year guard Stephanie Carr said.
The Ravens face off against the Gee-Gees, their cross-town rivals, in their first game following the break. The game will serve as a preview of the upcoming Capital Hoops Classic.
“It’s good that we get to play them this weekend first. That way we can get the nerves out of some people before we play them in the big game,” Carr said.
Shotbolt said she believes this game can help determine how the Capital Hoops game will go.
“I think depending on how we do, this Friday will prepare us for the Capital Hoops game,” she said. “I think we will be very successful if we do everything that we have to do.”
