THE GEE-GEES ARE gaining speed on their way to the playoffs. The women’s basketball team didn’t surprise its home crowd with a double win last weekend, continuing their streak with eight home-game victories. While the men’s team lost their first match on Friday, they made up for it on Jan. 28 with a convincing against the York Lions.
Home-game streak
How much longer can the women’s basketball team go?
The University of Ottawa women’s basketball team (15-2) has won their last 15 consecutive games. Ranked sixth nationally, the Gees made easy work of both their opponents on Jan. 27–28. With only five games left until the playoffs, head coach Andy Sparks is ready for a challenge, which will come in their game next week against Carleton.
“It’ll be a completely different game,” said Sparks of the upcoming match. “Now, we [would] get looks if we run our stuff; against Carleton we won’t get any looks. We have to play a lot better than that against Carleton and hopefully we have the potential to do that.”
During the Gees’ annual Shoot for the Cure awareness and fundraising night on Jan. 27, the Garnet and Grey crushed the Laurentian University Voyageurs (3-14) 85-50. The first quarter saw the Gees spring a 16-point lead. Fifth-year centre Hannah Sunley-Paisley and fourth-year centre Jenna Gilbert contributed 15 points each, leading the Gees to their victory.
With quick feet the Gees sprinted down the court for a convincing 73-47 win against the York University Lions (6-11) on Jan. 28. First-year point guard Kellie Ring started the scoring off with a three-pointer from beyond the arc, while fifth-year guard Teddi Firmi-Kuehn and second-year guard Émilie Cyr each contributed four points to the quarter to finish the first 10 minutes 23-8.
York University pulled together a small comeback in the second half, gaining on the Gees by 10 points midway through the third.
They were unable to maintain their play and allowed the Garnet and Grey to rebound for a 19-point lead.
“We didn’t seem to pick it up in the third quarter, but I think we defended well in the first half,” said Sparks.
The final minutes of play saw Sunley-Paisley score a three-pointer to finish the game.
The Gees will go on the road to meet their crosstown rivals, the Carleton University Ravens (12-5), on Feb. 4 at 7 p.m.
—Katherine DeClerq
Getting their groove back
Gee-Gees men’s basketball team rebound after another loss
Unable to secure a win during last Friday night’s game against Laurentian University Voyageurs (8-9) with a final score of 90-80, the University of Ottawa men’s basketball team (11-6) were desperate for a win. Making quick work of the York University Lions (3-14) and ending the game 92–61, the Gees finished the match with 11 wins under their belt for the regular season.
From the opening seconds of the first quarter on Jan. 28, fans could tell it was a different team on the court that stepped up to face off against the Lions. A stronger defence and higher energy level allowed Vikas Gill, first-year forward for the Gees, to score back-to-back three-pointers in the second quarter.
While the play got slower in the third quarter, the game ended with both the Lions and Gee-Gees picking it up and sinking most baskets.
“[We did a] much better job defensively,” said second-year guard Johnny Berhanemeskel about their win against York. “Everyone realizes our effort is what’s going to make us, especially with Warren being out. That energy … [and] every minute matters.”
Head coach James Derouin echoed Berhanemeskel’s sentiments about the team’s defensive play.
“Defensive energy was probably night and day difference from yesterday; we came out physical with a chip on our shoulders,” he said.
“Lesson has to be we don’t have to go through a Friday night to play like we [did] tonight. We should play like that every single night we play.”
The Gee-Gees men’s basketball team will make their next appearance at the Raven’s nest, squaring off against Carleton Feb. 3 at 8 p.m.
—Sofia Hashi
