WEEKEND RECAP: #5 Gee-Gees close regular season with wins at Ontario Tech and Queen’

The Gee-Gees women's basketball team closed their OUA regular season on the road with a 61-43 win over Ontario Tech on Friday and a 63-57 win over Queen's on Saturday. Ottawa, the fifth-ranked team in the nation, earned a bye in the first round of the playoffs, and will host a quarterfinal matchup next Saturday.

On Friday in Oshawa, the Gee-Gees pulled away in the third quarter to secure their second win against the Ridgebacks in three weeks. Ottawa was led by a 14-point, five-assist, and three-steal effort from Natsuki Szczokin in the win. Emily Payne 12 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks, while Allie McCarthy rounded out players in double-figures with 11 points, three rebounds, and two steals.

On Saturday, the Gee-Gees got out to as much as a 15-point lead through the middle stages of the game. The Gaels made it interesting, cutting into the lead late in the third and into the fourth quarter, but once again Szczokin came up big to steer her team to victory.

In her final regular season performance, the fifth-year point guard from Barrie had 13 fourth quarter points to close out the win for the Gee-Gees. In all, Szczokin finished with 18 points, six assists, and three steals. Payne had 13 points and six rebounds, while Ivany Rheault-Langué had 12 points and three steals off the bench.

For Szczokin, she officially locked in her placement in program career record finishing with 1,224 points (3rd), 406 assists (2nd), 262 steals (1st), 142 three-pointers made (1st). She also finished first in known minutes played and games started.

The Gee-Gees finished with the second overall seed in the OUA playoffs. They receive a first-round bye and will face the winner of Wednesday night's matchup of Waterloo at Queen's. Tip-off of the OUA quarterfinal will be at 6 p.m. at Montpetit Hall.