Lions forge comeback after weekend wins

Lewis Chaitov
Staff Writer
From the stands came nothing but cheering as the women’s basketball team took home two important victories after Saturday’s second suspenseful win of the week.
With a large crowd on hand the women took on the number one team in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Western conference and surpassed the Laurier Golden Hawks 63-59 in a very physical game Nov. 20.
York outscored and outplayed the Golden Hawks in the last two periods as Lion Llyandra Kerr and her teammates blocked off any shots that may have given the Golden Hawks the lead.
“It was a team effort, we never gave up, and we are always dedicated to win as a team,” said Kerr, who finished the match with seven rebounds.
Fourth-year player Brittany Szockyj – content with the improvement her teammates have made after they killed a prolonged losing streak with a Nov. 13 win against the McMaster Marauders celebrated the big victory.
“As a team we played well. Everybody contributed.”
Szockyj, the Lions top scorer that night, netted 20 points in the game, followed by rookie Kerr with 12 points.
The Lions’ other win was against the Waterloo Warriors Nov. 19, where the team defeated their rival with a mighty 87-63 win.
York used many of the same tactics and strategies in their game against Laurier, and kept on their opponent, knocking the ball away at every chance. The team’s rebounding skills have also improved, with a total of 36 rebounds made in Saturday’s game.
The three back-to-back victories matched the total wins the York team had taken last season.
The York Lions face the Brock Badgers and the Guelph Gryphons next as the team looks to keep up the momentum.