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Gaels drop 67-53 decision to Gee-Gees
Posted by: Dylan Plain (Sports Information Writer)

2/2/2013 8:16:00 PM
KINGSTON, Ont. (February 2, 2013) – The Queen's Gaels (6-11) women's basketball team was in action Saturday evening against the Ottawa Gee-Gees (13-4). Queen's, who currently finds themselves without starters Gemma Bullard (Guelph, Ont.) and Hanna Koposhynska (Mississauga), could not find a way past the size and stingy defense of Ottawa, dropping the meeting 67-53.

Ottawa wasted no time getting on the board with Kellie Ring (Ottawa) netting a three followed by a basket as the result of a drive to the hoop from Tatiana Hanlan (Gatineau, Que.) to put the Gee-Gees up in the opening minutes. Gaels graduating post Sydney Kernahan #12(Calgary) put the tricolour on the score sheet making a single free throw, followed up by a Jenny Wright (Kingston, Ont.) lay-in to pull Queen's within two mid-way through the first. Rachel Urosevic (Waterloo, Ont.) was able to give the Gaels a one point lead with a three ball off a Liz Boag (Kingston, Ont.) pass. Ottawa was quick to respond however, with Julia Soriano (Toronto) and Ring both scoring lay-ins. Hanlan was then able to steal the ball from the Gaels and work her way to the opposite end for an easy basket, with Ring hitting her second three of the match less then a minute later. Queen's eventually found their three-point scoring touch with Wright and Lisa Minutillo (Brantofrd, Ont.) hitting consecutive baskets from beyond the arc to pull the Gaels within one, 16-15.

The second quarter opened with strong defense from both sides, with the Gaels finally breaking the scoreless frame with a three ball from Boag. Hanlan quickly answered with a drive to the hoop to draw things even. Maddie Stephen (Toronto) put Ottawa up for a possession until Queen's was able to take the one possession lead off back-to-back lay-ins from Nicole Morse (Cottam, Ont.) and Robyn Pearson (Toronto). A 10-0 run from the Gee-Gees halfway through the second, capped off by a Catherine Traer (Chelsea, Que.) three-pointer, gave the Gee-Gees their first double digit lead of the match. The Gaels were outscored 16-8 in the second and trailed 32-23 heading into the break.

In the third quarter it was Boag getting the scoring started for the Gaels driving the ball to the hoop back-to-back times. Boag continued her dominance throughout the third, recording eight third quarter points, while Wright was also noteworthy for the Gaels in the period, recording five additional points—the two players alone outscored the entire Gee-Gee's roster in the third. Queen's outscored Ottawa 14-12 in the quarter to bring the Gaels within single digits heading into the final quarter.

Unfortunately in the fourth quarter Ottawa's strong defense proved too much for Queen's with the Gee-Gees recording three steals and nine rebounds in the period. The Gaels perimeter shooting was halted as well, with the Gaels going 4-for-13 in the final frame.

At the end of the match the lone graduating athlete from the women's varsity basketball team, Sydney Kernahan #12, was honoured in front of the Gaels faithful. Kernhan was awarded with a commemorative wood carving and a plaque by head coach Dave Wilson.

“We are honoured to have had a player and person of Sydney's caliber captaining our squad,” said Wilson of his graduating post.