The new-look Gee-Gees showed promise, but could not close the gap against the Ridgebacks
The Gee-Gees opened their season on Oct. 23, hosting the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks at Montpetit Hall. After undergoing a rebuilding phase this past offseason, the squad began their new chapter with a narrow 56-53 loss.
With three of five Gee-Gees’ starters making their first appearances in the OUA, some growing pains were to be expected. Still, the game gave fans an exciting opportunity to see the new squad in action!
First Quarter
A slow start from the Gee-Gees gave the Ridgebacks an early lead, as a handful of turnovers gave them plenty of chances to establish their offence.
Ontario Tech took advantage of those opportunities, nailing three three-point shots in the first quarter alone. First-year guard Sienna Rawana headed their barrage from three-point range, taking a whopping 15 attempts from deep on the night.
First-year guard Rowan Coupland provided a much needed spark for the Gee-Gees on offence, with a tough lay-up that cut into the Ridgebacks’ lead.
The Gee-Gees were able to close the quarter on a high, as first-year forward Claricha Mouberi stole the ball on the very next play, taking it all the way for a layup. The quarter closed with a score of 14-11 for the Ridgebacks.
Second Quarter
Ottawa carried their momentum from the end of the first forward, finding their footing on offence in the second quarter. The Gee-Gees’ defence was the highlight as they got stops and steals that led to quick-transition offence.
Forward Audrey Smart was a standout on the defensive end for Ottawa, with strong rim-defense and rebounding. When asked about her outstanding 16 rebound performance, the first-year said, “I go into all of my games focusing on grabbing boards and running the floor, I’m glad it showed tonight in the stats.”
First-year centre Camille Sylvester also dominated on the defensive end, shutting down the Ridgebacks’ offence around the rim. In her 20 minutes of playing time, Sylvester contributed 6 blocks and 9 rebounds, an elite showing in her first OUA match.
With the game tied late in the quarter, second-year point guard Kendra Nuguid found Mouberi in the post for a bucket that gave the Gee-Gees a 25-23 lead going into the half.
Third Quarter
The game was just as contested coming out of the break, with neither team able to establish a comfortable lead. Minutes into the frame, Ontario Tech’s Adra Barnet nailed a three, but Coupland responded with a three of her own.
Mouberi dominated the third quarter, making winning plays all over the court. The French forward tallied four steals throughout the game, and scored on a tough euro-step move that sent Monpetit Hall into a frenzy.
When asked about her team’s defensive performance, Mouberi said, “we work hard on our defence in practice, especially on our communication and ability to play as a team on that end”.
First-year Klara Friberg made her mark on the game late in the quarter, drilling a three that padded the Gee-Gees’ narrow lead. The Swedish guard was effective, contributing five points in her limited minutes.
The quarter closed with a score of 42-38 for the Gee-Gees.
Fourth Quarter
Ontario Tech quickly evened the score early on, with Rawana cashing in on another three. From there, the game quickly turned into a defensive masterclass for both sides, as neither squad could generate a good chance against the other.
Later on in the frame, Ontario Tech’s Elliot Cowan hit a clutch three that gave her squad the lead with only three minutes remaining. Smart kept the Gee-Gees in the game, grabbing an offensive rebound and putting it back up for a much-needed Ottawa bucket.
The Ridgebacks quickly scored to make it a four-point game, and the win seemed out of reach for the Gee-Gees with only a minute remaining. First-year guard Siena Khosla made her mark on the game by striking back with a clutch layup to bring Ottawa within one possession.
The Gee-Gees committed an intentional foul, hoping for another possession on offence. With only seconds remaining on the clock, Mouberi put up a half-court heave that missed by inches.
The season opener came to a close with a score of 56-53 to the Ridgebacks.
Looking Ahead
Despite the loss, the Gee-Gees had encouraging stretches throughout the game. Ottawa put up an overall impressive defensive performance and was dominant on the glass, tallying 48 rebounds .
With a talented young core, an experienced coaching staff and incredible defensive intensity, Ottawa has the potential to be a dominant squad in the OUA in the coming seasons.
