Tough losses for women

Basketball drops two games in Toronto

Queen’s forward Anne Murphy (14) fends off Ryerson’s Rebecca Cox in the Gaels’ loss Friday.
Image supplied by: Supplied by Christine Péloquin/Ryerson Athletics
Queen’s forward Anne Murphy (14) fends off Ryerson’s Rebecca Cox in the Gaels’ loss Friday.

The women’s basketball team dropped both of their games in Toronto this weekend. On Friday the team lost to the 2-12 Ryerson Rams 53-45, while on Saturday they faced the 11-3 University of Toronto Varsity Blues and lost a hard-fought game 71-56. In Friday’s game, the Gaels led 38-37 after the third quarter but struggled to score in the final 10 minutes, resulting in their first loss of the weekend. Head coach Dave Wilson said the game held no positives for the Gaels.

“There wasn’t one redeeming quality in that game.” Wilson said. “It’s one of those things that it’s hard to fathom where everything can go wrong in the game. We shot 26 per cent from the floor, which is below abhorrent. We didn’t handle the ball well, we didn’t catch or pass well, we didn’t do any aspect of the game well at all. Why that would be, I have no idea.”

The Gaels’ top scorers were team captain Sarah Barnes and Christine Wallace, with seven points apiece. Barnes was also unhappy with the team’s performance.

“We didn’t play very well and we weren’t ready to play so it was pretty disappointing,” she said. “It just shows you how good the league is—that if you don’t come prepared, you’ll lose.” Although Saturday’s game against the Varsity Blues also ended in a loss for the Gaels, Barnes, who led the team with 16 points and seven rebounds, said she felt the team put in a better performance.

“I know this is cliché, but I don’t think the score reflected the way we played,” she said. “We played a lot harder and there was good defence. … I think I played pretty well in terms of I was going pretty hard to the basket and trying to create some things. But you know, we lost, so it’s kind of disappointing.”

Despite the losses this weekend, Barnes said she believes the team’s on the right track.

“We’re on the path to get to where we need to be in the season,” she said. “Our team has always been about developing. We put in a new defence this year and it’s tough to develop but we’re moving in the right direction for sure.”

Anne Murphy also chipped in 13 points and seven rebounds for the Gaels in the loss, putting her second in team scoring.

Wilson said the loss was due to two poor stretches of play.

“In the last three minutes of the first half, we had a serious meltdown that allowed them to gain a nine-point lead,” he said. “The last two minutes of the third quarter was the same, where they gained six points on us. The rest of the game was even.”

Wilson said the game showed the team could compete with tough opponents like Toronto.

“For us, the positive is that we know what we can do against them,” he said. “We just have to clean up the transitions and turnovers.”

With the two losses, the Gaels fall to 5-10 on the season but remain fourth in the OUA East division. Six out of the eight eastern teams will make the playoffs. Although Wilson said the team isn’t where he wants it to be yet, he’s optimistic they’ll be prepared for February’s post-season.

“At this point in the season, I have the worst record I’ve had in 15 years, which is somewhat concerning, but in the broader picture of things I’m convinced we’ll be fine down the stretch and be prepared for the playoffs.” The team’s next game is Friday, when they will host the Carleton Ravens at 6 p.m.

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