“coming so close last year, we are using it as motivation to have a successful year”
Winter is coming, and no one is more excited than basketball fans who are ready to start following the Gee-Gees this term. Last season, the team delivered a thrilling performance, with nail-biting changing results and streaks, such as their highest winning streak of three games, showcasing the pressure they overcame and underwent.
The U of O team persevered and showed a variety of scoreboards across the season, bringing an uphill battle to the end of the season, where their long strides and efforts were cut short by a defeat against the Ravens in the OUA semifinal.
With the Gee-Gees taking down Laurentian in the first round of OUA playoffs and Waterloo in the quarterfinals, they seemed prepared to take on the Ravens, their own home rivals. However, if we look at their season games, a tight loss against Carleton in the Capital Hoops showed the fans what the final might have already in store for the Gee-Gees.
However, Head Coach Rose-Anne Joly stated, “[The semifinal] score really didn’t represent our season. We had an amazing season,” which is right. Basketball, as known, is a fast and changing game in which the result in one game can be extremely different in another; this team is an example of it. Just take their win over their Ravens in December as evidence.
“I’m very proud of the girls and the season that we had,” said Joly, who continued by expressing her excitement for this year’s season, with the addition of eight new players which according to Joly would be “key.”
Ottawa is not a team to give up and history has proved that. The Gee-Gees have appeared numerous times throughout their time in U SPORTS in the national championship, achieving their highest placement, bronze, right before the pandemic. With two provincial championship wins and six silver medals to their name, the team’s track record demonstrates the team’s potential.
Fifth year Gee and 2023-24 OUA First Team All-Star Natsuki Szczokin commented on the team’s energy entering this season. “Coming so close last year, we are using it as motivation to have a successful year,” said the point guard, adding that their goal was to come up with a win this year. She followed it up with connecting it to the coaches as “[they] are excited for the home opener, and the season to begin. We are feeding off their excitement.”
The University of Ottawa women’s basketball team has begun warming up for their season with a five-game winning streak in their non-conference games, creating a competitive and adrenaline filled team for the home and season opener against Windsor on Friday night at 6 p.m..
With five victories this month and a rampant win against McGill, during the U SPORTS preseason tournament, The team will showcase their skills and speed through the season, while also hoping to obtain another placement in the national championship and a higher standing this year.
Szczokin kept expectations level, stating “our main focus, as of now, is to take it one game at a time with the overall goal of going to nationals.”
Make sure to support your Gee-Gees and follow their season on their Instagram as well as with the Fulcrum’s social media; Instagram and Twitter.
