Big comeback lifts Gee-Gees over No. 5 McMaster
The Gee-Gees women’s basketball team banked a second straight big win at the Tournoi Rouge et Or des Fêtes on Wednesday, closing out the tournament with a thrilling 63-61 comeback win over the no. 5 ranked McMaster Marauders. Senior guard Kellie Ring hit the game-winning basket with a pull-up jumper to beat the buzzer.
The Gee-Gees women's basketball team banked a second straight big win at the Tournoi Rouge et Or des Fêtes on Wednesday, closing out the tournament with a thrilling 63-61 comeback win over the no. 5 ranked McMaster Marauders. Senior guard Kellie Ring hit the game-winning basket with a pull-up jumper to beat the buzzer.
It was a team effort for Ottawa in the final minutes as a three-pointer from Julia Soriano added with baskets from Krista van Slingerland, Catherine Traer, and Katherine Lemoine kept pace with the Marauders to set up the game-winner.
"Our seniors really stepped up down the stretch" noted Gee-Gees head coach Andy Sparks. "Lemoine created a match-up problem and we were able to work the inside-outside very well."
Katherine Lemoine led the way for Ottawa, scoring 20 points including 12-for-13 shooting from the free throw line. The third-year centre added eight rebounds, also the team high.
Ottawa trailed by a 40-19 score at halftime before roaring back with a lockdown defensive performance in the third quarter. The Gee-Gees went on a 20-3 tear to close the gap to two points heading into the final frame.
"We knew we needed to change the tempo in order to have a good third quarter," said Sparks. "We got shots early in the shot clock which created a lot more flow – the girls did a great job of closing the gap quickly."
McMaster's senior guard Danielle Boiago, who ranks third in the CIS and first in the OUA with 19.4 points per game, was held to 10 points.
The Gee-Gees finish 2-1 at the tournament, with the second win coming against Windsor, also by a 63-61 score.
McMaster opened the season as the no. 1 ranked team in the country with a 7-0 record but have now suffered five losses, including all three games this week at Laval. Ottawa has been unranked this season and now holds a 13-3 record against CIS competition. The Gee-Gees will start up the regular season again on January 16 when they visit the Carleton Ravens (10-9 overall, 5-2 regular season). uOttawa is one game ahead of the Ravens in the OUA North Division standings with a 6-1 record.
Source: Ottawa Gee-Gees
