The University of Ottawa Gee-Gees women’s basketball team defeated the Carleton Ravens 57-47 in the MBNA Capital Hoops Classic at the Canadian Tire Centre Jan. 21.
The Ravens came in unranked with a record of 10-3 on a six-game winning streak, while the Gee-Gees came in at 9-4, ranked 10th in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport.
This is only the second time the Gee-Gees women’s team has won the classic in the seven years it has been played.
The Gee-Gees dominated the first quarter, with Angela Tilk racking up 10 points in the quarter alone. She had 17 points in the game.
“The teams who outwork the other teams usually win,” Ravens head coach Taffe Charles said.
The Ravens managed to push back in the second quarter with big three-pointers. Their defence held strong and they were able to draw within three points by halftime.
After halftime, the tug-of-war continued as the Ravens kept pace with the Gee-Gees.
Fifth-year Ravens guard Elizabeth Roach scored nine points in the third quarter. She led the team in scoring with 18 points and 12 rebounds, but said she could have played better.
“I missed a lot of foul shots,” Roach said. “I don’t think I necessarily pulled my full weight today.”
In the fourth quarter, the Gee-Gees put the Ravens in a hole they couldn’t recover from, going on to win by a score of 57-47.
“We played very poorly today,” Charles said. “We didn’t put the effort in that we needed to win against a good team. Full credit to them, they just outworked us.”
[slideshow gallery_id=”7″]Second-year forward Lindsay Shotbolt had five points for the Ravens, and also fouled out of the game in the fourth quarter.
“I was really frustrated,” Shotbolt said. “There were certain fouls I thought weren’t great, but at the same time it comes on me. I think I let down my team.”
With the win, the Gee-Gees halted the Ravens’ six-game winning streak.
“Obviously we can take the lesson that sometimes it’s good to lose,” Charles said. “Maybe they remember the loss, and decide maybe they’ll work harder the next time.”
The Ravens will be back in action Jan. 24-25 to take on the Queen’s University Gaels and the York University Lions at the Ravens’ Nest.
