RECAP: #4 Gee-Gees drop Capital Hoops nailbiter to #1 Ravens

The Gee-Gees women's basketball team gave the defending champions and nationally top-ranked Carleton Ravens everything they could handle on Friday night at The Arena at TD Place. Despite leading for the majority of the game, Ottawa fell narrowly by a 58-54 final tally.

Ottawa started the game on fire, powering to a game-high 14-point lead in a dominant first quarter effort. The second frame fared better for the Ravens, but the Gee-Gees still held a commanding 30-19 lead at halftime.

Carleton pared away at the lead, using a key fourth quarter push to overtake the Gee-Gees late in the game. Despite a clutch three-pointer by Victoria Brideau with under a minute remaining to cut the Carleton lead back to two, the Gee-Gees ran out of time to reclaim their lead.

Natsuki Szczokin led the way for the Gee-Gees in her final appearance at Capital Hoops. The fifth-year star guard had 19 points, four steals, three rebounds, and two assists. Ivany Rheault-Langué provided a spark off the bench, with nine points, two rebounds, and two assists in 22 minutes of action.

In all, the Gee-Gees put forth an outstanding defensive effort forcing 25 turnovers.

"I'm so proud of the girls, we had a game plan, we executed the game plan," said Gee-Gees head coach Rose-Anne Joly. "We provoked 25 turnovers, we wanted to make sure we protected the key… we just needed to adjust a little bit more in the fourth and that's unfortunate, but other than that, I'm very proud."

Following the weekend's games, Ottawa remains in second place in the OUA East at 17-3 and in control of the second overall seed in the OUA playoff picture.

Up Next:

The Gee-Gees will take to the road for the final weekend of the regular season. First, Ottawa will take on Ontario Tech in Oshawa on Friday night at 6 p.m. before heading to Kingston for a matchup with Queen's on Saturday at 4 p.m.