Tanya Perry was injured during the OUA semi-finals ( Photo: Stephen Smith )
When fourth-year guard Tanya Perry crashed to the floor during the Ravens’ second-round playoff game against the University of Ottawa on Sat. Feb. 21, so did the post-season hopes for the women’s basketball team. Despite a valiant effort, they lost the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) East semifi nals to the Gee– Gees 49–56.
The diminutive Perry, the Ravens’ floor leader, was left lying in a heap on one end of the court as the rest of the players charged to the other side, unaware that she had hurt her leg. Perry had to be lifted and carried off the floor by two teammates and a trainer and would not re–enter the game. When the game was over Perry was tied for most points in the match despite playing just under three quarters.
The loss was a blow to a Carleton team that had playoff aspirations. The start of the game was delayed to cater to the live television coverage, causing some confusion on the floor. All 10 players held their spots on the court in silence and waited, frozen in place, until finally someone gave the signal that the game could start and the gym came alive. Second-year forward Ashleigh Cleary scored for Carleton just seconds after the tip then blocked a shot on the other end that led to a Perry three–pointer.
The Ravens followed that flurry by forcing turnover after turnover and making the game look onesided in Carleton’s favour. Their smothering defence and crisp play–making appeared to be too much for the Gee–Gees to handle until U of O shook off its early jitters and made up for its sloppy start by out–hustling a Ravens team known for its hustle. “We usually out–rebound teams, we’ve rarely lost a rebounding battle all year and we just lost some rebounding battles this game,” a subdued head coach Taffe Charles said after the game. Gee-Gees’ head coach Andy Sparks said the U of O game plan gave them the advantage.
“[Carleton] out–rebounded us by a lot last time. We played so that was one of our focuses coming into the game and for us to win the rebounding battle was big for us,” he said.
Carleton forward Ines Jelic was the lone Raven effective on the boards with 12, but her playing time was limited by three quick blocking fouls early in the game. The lead changed hands as Carleton stayed in the game despite losing the battle of the boards, thanks in large part to Perry, before injury took her out of the match. On one play she saw that her team’s offensive set had broken down, so she dribbled out the clock and hit a midrange jumper over her defender.
Shortly afterwards she demonstrated her ability to shoot off-the-dribble faster than the defence could react by drilling another one over her would-be defender. There were some glaringly bad calls during the game that contributed to Carleton’s loss. In the third quarter a foul was called on a Carleton player and after the whistle a pass and shot were made on the Ottawa side that the officials decided to count. Then in the fourth quarter Carleton was called on a shot– clock violation despite an earlier missed attempt that should have reset the clock.
The Carleton half of the gym loudly voiced their displeasure with the ruling but to no avail. Playing without their best player and with seemingly every call going against them, the Ravens fell down by seven.
Losing Perry, and Jelic’s early foul trouble, proved too much for them and their strong, historymaking season came to an end. Still, Charles said he is proud of his team.
“We gave it everything we’ve got.”