EDMONTON — From start to finish, the Carleton Ravens have not played a more complete game of basketball this season than their monster 74-40 performance against the Queen’s Gaels in the U Sports women’s basketball championship semifinal.
Having played each other in the OUA Critelli Cup final just a week prior, it was only fitting that the Ravens and Gaels stood in each other’s way for the right to play for the Bronze Baby Trophy in the championship final.
But unlike that close 63-55 battle, Carleton had the Gaels tripping over their own shoelaces with their assertive brand of basketball.
“It is a goal of ours to try to hold teams to our standards and play fundamentally every single possession and we take huge pride in that,” Ravens head coach Dani Sinclair said.
Ravens guard Tatyanna Burke said the team wasn’t worried about having to defeat the Gaels for the second time in two weeks.
“We’ve played [against Queen’s] enough at this point,” Burke said. “Honestly when you step out on the court, all the nerves come out and you’re playing for your teammates and that’s the greatest feeling.”
Despite going down 5-0 early in the first quarter, the Ravens’ top guns quickly got to work, taking the lead two minutes in and never looking back.
“They got a few good looks early on in the game, but I think three or four minutes in, we got on the same page defensively and just had really good team defence throughout the rest of the game,” Sinclair said.
Guard Kali Pocrnic wowed the audience at the Saville Community Sports Centre once again with her elite ball handling and nimbleness. Her game-high 22 points in just 20 minutes of action were eight better than the next closest player, Gaels forward Julia Chadwick.
“Every time she plays, I’m just speechless,” Burke said. “There are no words because I’m always in awe.”
A 9-0 run, including a trademark three-point bucket for Pocrnic, powered Carleton to a 23-14 lead after one quarter.
Aggressive yet structured defence forced numerous Gaels mistakes, generating an astounding game total of 25 points off turnovers for Carleton.
The second quarter also spotlighted the Ravens’ unparalleled ability to score in the paint, shooting an impressive 52.6 per cent from the field. Ravens guards Dorcas Buisa and Kyana-Jade Poulin were particularly adept at outwaiting their opponents under the basket before depositing easy layups. Carleton went on to outscore Queen’s 42-16 in the paint by the final buzzer.
All this offence translated to a 44-25 edge at halftime, which promptly became a 30-point advantage by the end of the third quarter.
With a massive lead secured, Carleton had the liberty to shuffle through its bench players, showcasing a level of depth perhaps only matched by their next opponents from Saskatchewan.
“The goal was to get everybody on the floor,” Burke said. “Not everyone has those opportunities to play great teams such as Queen’s […] the girls are always cheering us on and we want to do the same so it was an amazing feeling.”
The final quarter featured low-event basketball, which was exactly what the Ravens wanted.
The Gaels were completely shut out of the paint and forced to shoot from afar, yielding several air balls and rushed attempts. It was textbook defence.
The last minutes dragged out as the inevitable Ravens blowout win loomed closer. The final buzzer mercifully released the Gaels from the Ravens’ clutches.
The Gaels are now slotted to compete with the Laval Rouge et Or in the bronze medal game on March 10 at 7 p.m. EST.
The Ravens have no time to celebrate their win, as the No. 1 seed Saskatchewan Huskies await them in the championship final. In 2018, the Ravens captured their first-ever national title against the Huskies.
“[The Huskies] have a high-powered offence, they’re deep, they defend well, so there’s a lot to keep in mind and we’ll get to work watching film,” Sinclair said.
The final game between the Ravens and Huskies tips off on March 10 at 9:30 p.m. EST.
Featured image by Owen Spillios-Hunter/The Charlatan.
