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Game Recap: Basketball (W) | 3/4/2017 10:44:00 PM | Posted by: Adam Ali (Sports Information Assistant)
Gaels come up short in Critelli Cup Final, falling to Carleton 49-41


KINGSTON, Ont.- The Queen's Gaels women's basketball team battled hard, but came up short in the Critelli Cup OUA championship final on Saturday evening at the Athletics and Recreation Centre (ARC), falling to the Carleton Ravens by a score of 49-41 in front of a sell-out crowd of 1,904.

After losing their first game of the season back in November, the Ravens ran the table throughout the rest of their conference and playoff schedule, winning 21 straight contests, the last of which came in a formidable defensive effort against a Gaels squad that also lost only once in the regular season. That defeat also came against the Ravens on February 10 at the ARC.

"It's been a long time coming for this program," said Carleton bench-boss Taffe Charles. "We work hard and I thought this team deserved it, we did a lot of great things this year and overcame a lot of adversity. We're just pleased to win in an absolute hostile environment, defense can win championships and it doesn't fail you especially when things are tight."

Carleton held the Gaels to a 19.7% (15-76) shooting percentage and just two three-point field-goals on the night, while managing just enough offense of their own against a stingy Queen's squad that held them to a 27.1% (16-59) efficiency.

OUA first-team all-star Heather Lindsay tallied a game-high 15 points and 16 rebounds in the victory, and was named the Porter Airlines player of the game in helping the Ravens raise the Critelli Cup Trophy for the first time in its history.

"It was a big statement win for our program," said Lindsay. "We go out there, we see a target and we just try and beat it. That was our goal on the year and we did it for our coach."

"I've known Heather since she was 14-years old and just to see her growth as a basketball player is amazing," said Charles. "When the players want it more than the coach that's what you want to have and she really led this team."

Fellow first-team all-star Catherine Traer added nine points and seven rebounds for the Ravens.

The Gaels were led by first-team conference all-star Emily Hazlett, who picked up 14 points, four rebounds, and three assists. Marianne Alarie tallied 12 points and six rebounds, while Robyn Pearson – also a first-team all-star – added seven points and a game-high 18 rebounds.

The Gaels' sole title remains its OUA championship victory in 2000-01.

"I felt we got good looks at the hoop a number of times, and even when we had those good looks we couldn't make it," said Queen's coach Dave Wilson. "This one we'll just have to forget and move on to the next one (at U SPORTS) and see who we draw. The atmosphere that we had (at the ARC), the signs, the noise, everything like that, it was just a fun place to play."

With a raucous ARC crowd eager to make its presence felt, both teams started out a bit hesitantly in their respective offenses though the opening 10 minutes of the finals, combining for just eight field goals. After Hazlett (Fredericton, N.B.) scored at the 4:59 mark, the Gaels would go cold for the next four minutes, and the Ravens were able to take over the lead with a 6-0 run. Pearson (Toronto) ended the scoreless streak by hitting a long jumper with 30 seconds left, but Traer (Chelsea, Que.) ended the quarter with a quick lay-up to give Carleton a 12-11 lead.

Hazlett started the second with a reverse lay-up, but the Ravens responded with an 8-0 streak to take a 20-13 lead. OUA second-team all-star Elizabeth Leblanc (London, Ont.) drained a three, while Lindsay (Ottawa) made her presence felt in the post, picking up five points in that span as well, which prompted a timeout from Gaels coach Dave Wilson. Carleton would score six more coming out of the break, pushing the lead to as many as 13