CIS: Ottawa defeats UFV, sets rematch of Gee-Gees and Lancers for East Regional final

OTTAWA (CIS) – Banking another win over national competition with tonight’s 75-69 victory over number eight nationally ranked Fraser Valley Cascades, the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees continue to prove they’re ready for the CIS Final 8 next weekend.

With their ticket to the 2012 CIS Championship already locked in with last week’s OUA Championship win, the Gee-Gees took to their bench early in the game. But the Gee-Gee rookies had no trouble proving that they’re a key part of the national calibre team. Led by Maddie Stephen (Toronto, Ont.) on the boards and Ariane Lachance-Scantland (Gatineau, Qué.) at the perimeter, the Gee-gees began building their lead.

Off back-to-back treys from second-year Tatiana Hanlan (Gatineau, Qué.) and fifth-year Bess Lennox (Ottawa, Ont.), the Gee-Gees opened their second quarter scoring drive, extending their lead to the double digits before Fraser Valley knew what hit them. But Fraser Valley was just getting warmed up, and with an even scoring push from their entire starting line, the Cascades were back within four points of the home-court Gee-Gees by half.

It was a battle of two well-matched teams in the third quarter, as Fraser Valley pulled within one point of the home-court Gee-Gees. But that would be as close as the Cascades would come, as the Gee-Gees remained solid to rebuild their lead throughout the fourth.

In the last five minutes, Tessa Klassen’s three-pointer put Fraser Valley within six points of the Gee-Gees, but the Cascades’ inability to produce on subsequent drives and solid rebounding from Lennox would leave the Gee-Gees in position for the win, ending any further Fraser Valley playoff hopes.

“The game plan was to try and play everyone in the first half and see where we were,” said Gee-Gees’ head coach Andy Sparks, “Unfortunately, it was a little closer than we wanted it to be. We got up 15 and it would’ve been nice if we had pushed through a little bit better. But they were a very good team and made plays; full credit to Fraser Valley in that one.”

Fifth-year Hannah Sunley-Paisley (Toronto, Ont.) came on fire in the second half, sinking 16 points and securing nine rebounds by the buzzer to earn her player of the game honours. Fourth-year Jenna Gilbert (Ottawa, Ont.) also chipped in 15 points, and Lennox 13 points, 11 rebounds.

Fraser Valley put forth a solid team effort on the scoring front, with 15 points, seven assists from player of the game Kayli Sartori, 14 points from Klassen and 11 points from both Aieisha Luyken and Nicole Wierks.

With the Gee-Gees’ win tonight and Windsor’s win earlier this evening, the Lancers have now secured their berth to the CIS Championships regardless of the result in tomorrow’s 6:00 p.m. CIS East Regional championship. All that’s left on the line tomorrow is pride and seeding for both teams heading into nationals.

Boxscore: http://english.cis-sic.ca/championships/wbkb/2011-12/schedule

Ottawa
Points: Hannah Sunley-Paisley (16), Jenna Gilbert (15), Bess Lennox (13)
Rebounds: Bess Lennox (11), Hannah Sunley-Paisley (9)
Assists: Kellie Ring (8), Tatiana Hanlan (2)

Player of the game: Hannah Sunley-Paisley