The Carleton Ravens women’s basketball team advanced to their second straight Critelli Cup final with a 61-48 victory over the Windsor Lancers on Feb. 28.
The Ravens came into the game having never won against Windsor in the playoffs. The team was eliminated by the Lancers at home in 2016. Forward Alyssa Cerino was on the Windsor side for that game; she’s on the Ravens one now.
Cerino’s play off the bench proved crucial as she chipped in with nine points. Catherine Traer led Carleton with 13 points while Nyamuoch Teny put up 13 points for Windsor.
The game was tight and defensive as both teams made it hard for each other to score.
Lancers guard Carly Steer knocked down an open three-pointer to give the visitors an 8-6 edge before Ravens point guard Jenjen Abella came out and drove for a floater in her first possession off the bench.
Abella, who was nursing an ankle injury since a game against the York Lions on Feb. 16, said she felt “decently healthy” heading into the game.
She got involved in the ball movement as it swung from her to Elizabeth Leblanc to Karyne Jolicoeur for an open three to put them up 11-10.
The game stayed close throughout the first half with both teams trading baskets. Steer drove on Traer and scored but the Chelsea, Que., native answered back by attacking the basket and finishing. Leblanc’s bucket helped put the home team up 24-22 at halftime.
Carleton went on a run in the third quarter, capped off as Cerino popped out to the three-point line after a pick-and-roll with Abella—her self-proclaimed favourite play. Abella hit her with a pass as she drained it to make it 38-28 Carleton.
Windsor kept within touching distance as they trailed 41-32 heading into the fourth quarter. Then they made their run.
Olivia Osamusali scored on a fast break, Teny hit a three and then finished at the rim to cut the deficit to 43-39. Carleton answered as Abella found Leblanc from deep moments later.
The game was paused as Windsor’s Kaylee Anagnostopoulos was tended by the trainer due to an injury.
When it resumed, Cerino continued her strong play to finish off her former team. She hit a scoop shot and the ensuing free-throw to make it 52-44. Nicole Gilmore’s three-pointer restored the double-digit lead and brought the crowd into cheers.
“I mean we didn’t play well in the first half,” Ravens head coach Taffe Charles pointed out. “All credit to them, they’re a championship team . . . we tried to go [with] a little bit more subs.”
Cerino also took note of the team’s slow start.
“We did start off slow, rebounding, we couldn’t really finish,” she said. “I think we just had to get a little bit more urgency.”
“It’s a good feeling,” Cerino said of winning against her former team. “Coming from Windsor, the background there is ‘compete, play hard’ so I knew that coming in.”
This was also the final home game in a Ravens uniform for graduating players Abella, Gilmore, Leblanc, Traer, Heather Lindsay, and Stephanie Carr.
The Ravens will now travel to Hamilton to face the McMaster Marauders on March 3 to defend their Critelli Cup title, after the Marauders beat the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees in the other semifinal.
For Cerino, Abella, Gilmore and even former Hamilton Transway player Leblanc, it will be a homecoming of sorts.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” Cerino said of possibly winning the Critelli Cup in Hamilton. “I couldn’t describe it . . . not every team gets to make it and we’re making history here . . . just really taking it in.”
Photo by Meagan Casalino
