Ravens “rookie family” rises to the occasion in first playoff game

Carleton Ravens women’s basketball rookies Tatyanna Burke, Dorcas Buisa and Kali Pocrnic all made notable contributions in their first university playoff game. 

The Ravens beat the York University Lions 67-64 in the first round of the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) playoffs as Buisa (18 minutes), Burke (33) and Pocrnic (39) saw considerable playing time. The Ravens were without senior forward Alyssa Cerino for the third straight game. 

“I don’t think they’re rookies anymore,” Ravens head coach Brian Cheng said. “At times, Kali performs like a fifth-year vet and defensively, [Burke] performs like a fifth-year vet.”

Burke contributed through rebounding, scoring and defence. She had 12 rebounds and nine points, including shooting seven-for-eight from the free throw line. 

“I was like, ‘Don’t think about missing, don’t think at all,’” Burke said of her free throw strategy against York. “If I look at the rim, I feel like it’s going to go in.” 

The experience of her first OUA playoff game was, “just all the team things we did,” she said.

“Passing, even looking at the bench, they were hyping us up when we were on the court. So, that was probably the best part.” 

Pocrnic also called it an experience, but noted there were some nerves at the start of the game. Both teams turned the ball over numerous times, which Cheng said came from nerves. York had 24 turnovers while Carleton had 17. 

“Just saying, ‘Next, we got next, like get a stop,’” Pocrnic said. “A lot of our teammates are very … encouraging. If we mess up, they tell us what we did wrong and what we can do.” 

The Ravens only shot 28 per cent from deep (compared to York’s 47.4 per cent) but Buisa hit three of her four three-pointers. 

“I was not focused on making the shot, just being in the right position to shoot,” Buisa said. “That definitely helped me.” She’s shot 32.7 per cent from three on the season. 

York took an 8-0 early lead and kept a nearly double-digit advantage throughout the first half until Carleton made a run late in the second quarter. York led 29-27 at halftime and the game remained close until the end with no team really pulling away. 

“I feel like we played a little bit panicked and to their speed,” Pocrnic said of the team’s start. “They wanted to slow us down but we were playing faster. We should have just slowed down and chilled out.” 

Buisa said the team communicated better offensively as the game went on. 

The fouls on both teams started to pile up in the fourth quarter. York guard Katrina Collins-Samuels fouled out and then forward Lauren Golding did as well. Then, Buisa did too.

“I should have been aware of the time and how many fouls I had and just kept [the opposing player] in front of me,” Buisa said. “I think I could have done without reaching and she would have turned it over herself.” 

With Buisa and her three-point shooting out, Pocrnic continued to attack the basket–both finding teammates with passes and scoring herself. 

“The first thought was to get fouls rather than finish,” Pocrnic said. “Obviously try to finish but really try and get a body and get to the line.” 

Pocrnic added the team knew some of York’s players were in foul trouble and the aim was to get them fouled out–which they did. She scored 12 points, including hitting six-of-eight free throws.

Pocrnic put on a spin move and drove to the basket, hitting a floater to put Carleton up 65-62 with 24 seconds remaining. Burke hit two free throws with 16 seconds left to seal the victory. 

Burke said by the playoff game, the group of rookies have grown as a “rookie family” since last summer. “I feel like they’re sisters in some way,” she said. 

The rookies encourage and help each other out, according to Burke. She said Buisa points things out to her that she doesn’t see. Burke herself reminds Pocrnic to calm down to help her play the point guard role. 

She said fellow rookies Bryn Reynolds, Jade Lyons and Taza Adebayo are also supportive. Burke calls Lyons “the hype man of the rookie group” given how she’s constantly hyping teammates up. 

“Byrn, I call her the mom [of the rookie group],” Burke said. “She’s really smart. If you have any questions–I want to call her the rookie vet–where she knows what to do”

“I know for me, talking on the team for me is a big thing I’m not good at,” Burke said. “If I have any problems, I can go to those girls to clear them out.” 

The rookies–along with the rest of the Ravens–will now face the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees for a third time this season in the OUA quarterfinals on Feb. 22.

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Feature image by Tim Austen.