Garnet and Grey keep streak alive with seventh win in a row
The University of Ottawa Women’s basketball team looked to continue their six-game win streak against the last placed the Nipissing Lakers of the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) eastern conference.
Amélie Hachey was the facilitator on the first basket of the game and the Gees took a six-point lead early thanks to a nice full court press. Maia Timmons caught fire for the Garnet and Grey, accounting for nine of the 15 points score by the Gees. The Lakers responded with three-pointers and the Gees led 15-13 after the first quarter.
Coach Andy Sparks talked about the impact that Timmons and Hachey had on their success. “If Amé (Hachey) and Maia hit shots, and they hit enough shots tonight for us to be successful, I think we can be successful.”
The Gees caught fire early on in the second scoring 11 points in the first three minutes. Isabelle Dion did well to grab a rebound in the paint and Timmons hit her fourth three. Nipissing continued their shooting from long to reduce the Gee-Gees lead to 29-26 with 3:47 to go.
The Gees used a great full court press to force some turnovers, but could not convert. Nipissing kept fighting and the Gees had a slight 31-29 lead. Hachey hit a late three and Kellie Forand made a fast-break layup to bring the Garnet and Grey’s lead to 36-29 going into the first half. Timmons led the Gees with 12 points 4-5 shooting from behind the line and Forand had seven points to pace the Gees.
Hachey made a nice cut and received a good pass to hit a three to restore the Gee-Gees’ seven-point lead before Nipissing responded to cut the Gees lead to 41-36 with 6:10 to play. Hachey continued her big quarter with a three-pointer to bring the Garnet and Grey lead to double-digits 48-38 with just under three minutes to play. The Gees took a 54-41 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.
After no scoring in the first three minutes of play in the final quarter, Nipissing struck first with a three-pointer their seventh of the game. Timmons hit her fifth three-pointer of the game to give the Gees a 14-point lead 59-45 with 4:55 to play. Nipissing didn’t quit, keeping the Garnet and Grey to five points in the first nine minutes of the fourth quarter. Hachey officially put the game to bed with a long three to give her Gees a 62-50 lead, which ended up being the final score.
With seven wins in a row, Sparks still sees room for improvement, especially in the post. “Right now I think we need to be a little bit better in the post then we have playing, we had absolutely no post game tonight whatsoever.”
Jump shooting was the key to success for the Gees in their win, but Sparks knows that down the road they will have to score in the paint.
The next Gee-Gees home game will take place on Feb. 16 at Montpetit hall at 6 p.m. against Queen’s University. The Gees will go head to head against cross-town rivals Carleton University at the Canadian Tire Centre on Feb. 2 at 6 p.m.
