The Carleton Ravens women’s basketball team closed out the 2017-18 regular season with their first ever undefeated season at 23-0 thanks to victories over the York Lions and Queen’s Gaels on Feb. 16 and 17.
The Ravens made a late comeback to prevail 54-45 over York as the Lions threatened their undefeated record.
Catherine Traer led the Ravens offensively with 17 points and four rebounds as well as four steals, as point guard Jenjen Abella left the game with an injury after awkwardly stepping on a York player’s foot.
The Ravens jumped out to an early 7-4 lead thanks to two three-pointers by Traer and Cynthia Dupont. Former Raven Lindsay Shotbolt opened the scoring for York and recorded a double-double (10 points, 16 rebounds) over the course of the match.
Carleton ended a defensive first quarter on top 12-7 but York would fight back to take a 22-20 lead going into halftime. The Lions scored seven straight points to end the first half, capped off by a Cyanna King layup and free throw afterwards.
The teams would exchange baskets in the third quarter, with Madison Reid and Haley Bowie exchanging three-pointers. Bowie led the visitors with 13 points off the bench. She scored four quick points late in the third to put York up 36-31.
The Lions continued their strong play early in the fourth as Shotbolt’s jumper led to a Carleton timeout with the score at 41-34 in favor of York. It was there where the Ravens would mount their comeback: Elizabeth Leblanc hit a deep ball on the next possession, Traer added five quick points, and York called timeout.
The Ravens went on a 10-0 run to close out the game, led by back-to-back layups by Nicole Gilmore to win the game 54-45.
Carleton held their senior’s night before their 67-46 victory over Queen’s as Leblanc, Dupont, and Gilmore as well as graduating players Abella, Traer, Heather Lindsay and Stephanie Carr were honoured.
Just like their previous meetings, the first quarter was tight and defensive as both teams attacked inside. Traer continued her strong play with a full-court stretch pass to Leblanc as well as driving to the rim multiple times.
Dupont and Gaels forward Andrea Priamo exchanged baskets at the end of the first to make it 14-14.
“My coach [Taffe Charles] tells me to attack all the time and I’m hesitant most of the time but I took it today and it worked well so I got my confidence up so that’s good,” Dupont said of her aggressive offensive approach.
The Gaels would catch fire to start the second as Marianne Alarie hit consecutive three-pointers from the same spot. She stole the ball and dished to Maddie Morris for a baseline floater to give Queen’s a 24-18 lead.
However, Carleton would bounce back, thanks to a stout defence and contributions off the bench by Alyssa Cerino (13 points in 16 minutes before she left with a hand injury) and Dupont (16 points, four rebounds).
Cerino and Reid hit three-pointers to tie the game at 24 as the Ravens’ run began. Traer added a steal and breakaway layup while Dupont scored four straight points as Carleton ended the first half on top 38-27.
The gap would only widen in the third quarter as Leblanc made two layups and Lindsay scored off a rebound to make it 46-27. Queen’s didn’t score until Michelle Istead’s drive and finish at rim halfway through the third.
Dupont continued to chip in offensively, scoring six straight points for Carleton off drives to the basket as well as jumpers. Carleton would keep their lead to the end of the game.
“We put a lot of emphasis on rebounding, taking care of their posts and not letting them shoot the ball,” Traer said of Carleton’s defence. “We gave them a few easy looks in the first half and we made sure they wouldn’t get those looks in the second half.”
Traer also reflected on the special accomplishment of an undefeated season.
“It’s an amazing way to end the season undefeated,” she noted. “For some of us, to end potentially our basketball U Sports careers, you couldn’t ask for a better finish.”
The Ravens now look towards the first game of the OUA playoffs against the Ryerson Rams on Feb. 24.
Photo by Meagan Casalino
