Brock pulls off upset in OUA bronze medal game
More than just pride was at stake at the OUA women’s basketball bronze medal game, as the Brock Badgers and the Carleton Ravens battled for a guaranteed spot into the CIS regionals round. A back-and-forth match ensued, with the Badgers leading by just one point heading into the final quarter of play. And in the end, Brock managed to win in a 58-51 overtime upset.
The game got off to a slow start as both teams struggled to get into a rhythm on offence. With neither team shooting well, the Ravens relied on their free throw shooting to take an early 4-0 lead in the game. The Badgers were the first team to wake up on the offensive end, as good ball movement and a solid transition game gave Brock an 18-10 lead after the first quarter. Brock forwards Andrea Polischuk (Brantford, Ont.) and Nicole Rosenkranz (Niagara Falls, Ont.) contributed with multiple baskets in the paint.
But the nationally fifth-ranked Ravens squad didn’t back down, as they started the second quarter on a 11-4 run to cut the deficit to just one point by the five minute mark of the frame. Carleton forward Ashleigh Cleary (Kemptville, Ont.) led the Ravens’ charge with 10 points in the first half, but the Badgers still had a four-point lead at the intermission. Brock shot 39 per cent in the first 20 minutes of play, while the Ravens countered with 29 per cent shooting from the field.
Just a few minutes into the third quarter, Carleton guard Alyson Bush (Ottawa, Ont.) suddenly caught fire, as she scored eight straight points by herself to give the Ravens their first lead since early in the first quarter. A late basket and a free throw by Brock guard Kayla Santilli (Brantford, Ont.) meant that the Badgers would have a slim 43-42 lead at the end of three quarters.
The defensive struggle continued into the fourth quarter, as the two teams were tied at 46 with just over four minutes left in the game. With less than a minute to go, Carleton forward Genavieve Melatti (Brampton, Ont.) split her free throw attempts, giving the Ravens a 50-48 advantage. With her team on the brink of defeat, Brock guard Emily McKay (Toronto, Ont.) drove to the hoop for a crucial lay-up, forcing overtime. And in the extra session, McKay hit another big lay-up, to put the Badgers ahead for good. Brock’s Samantha deJong was named the player of the match after leading her team with 12 points and nine boards.
Source: uOttawa Sports Information
