Matt Dionne | Editor-in-Chief
Featured image: The women drop a heartbreaker against U of T, but remain in fifth in the division. | Courtesy of York Lions
The women’s basketball team was looking to gain ground in the standings this week, with a pair of crucial matchups against Ryerson and U of T.
On Wednesday, the women were taking on the Ryerson Rams, hoping to leapfrog them in the standings for fourth place in the OUA East.
The game started off well for the Lions, as they opened the first on an 8-3 run and outscored the Rams 25-18 in the quarter.
However, the Rams’ offense found a spark in the second, as they opened the quarter on a 6-0 run, outscoring the Lions by eight and taking a one-point lead with them into the break.
In the third, York’s offense struck back to the tune of 27 points, while their defense turned up the intensity and held the Rams to just 18 points.
With an eight-point lead going into the fourth, the Lions were looking to close out the game, and their defense played like it, limiting the Rams to their lowest offensive output of the game—16 points—as York would go on to win 79-75.
The Lions were led by Chante Clark, who recorded 23 points on 50 per cent shooting from the field, and perfect from the line.
After a couple days off, the Lions were back in action on Saturday taking on their other cross-town rival, the U of T Varsity Blues.
University of Toronto was also looking to gain some ground in the standings, as they came into the game trailing York by six points for fifth place in the division.
The first quarter featured another hot start for the Lions, as they opened the game on an 8-0 run, en route to 18 points in the quarter, while their defense limited the Blues to just nine points.
In the second, both teams’ defenses tightened up as they combined for just 24 points, as the Blues cut the Lions lead to just five going into the break.
In the third, U of T’s defense continued to suffocate the Lions offense, as they limited York to 13 points, while their offense poured in 19.
Trailing by one going into the fourth, the Lions needed to get their shots to start falling. Finally—thanks in part to some strong play on the offensive glass—York got their shots to drop, tying the game at 50 with just over five-and-a-half minutes to play.
The Blues responded by knocking down a three, but York answered right back with a three of their own, courtesy of Lauren Golding.
Then, with under three minutes to go, U of T retook the lead on a jump shot from Sarah Bennett.
Golding again tried to answer for the Lions, but her shot hit nothing but iron. The Blues gained possession and knocked down another jimmy, extending their lead to four.
However, the Lions refused to give up. Clark grabbed an offensive board and knocked down a short jimmy, cutting the Blues’ lead to two.
With under two minutes to go, U of T answered with another bucket, extending their lead to four once again.
After a pair of free throws from York cut the lead to two points, U of T turned it over, which gave York the chance to tie or take the lead.
York’s Katrina Collins-Samuels received a pass and took a three to give the Lions the lead. However, it missed the mark, and U of T took possession.
With under five seconds to go, the Blues turned the ball over again, allowing Lindsay Shotbolt a last-second heave to tie the game—but it missed as well, as the Lions fell just short in thrilling fashion.
York was led by Clark once again, who recorded 17 points, seven rebounds, an assist, a steal, and a block on 40 per cent shooting from the field.
Despite the loss, the Lions remain in fifth place in the division and have a chance to move into fourth place next week, when they finish the regular season in Ottawa.
The men lost both their games this week, and have yet to earn a win in 2018.
On Friday, the Lions will be at Carleton taking on the Ravens, and then on Saturday will travel North on Bronson to take on the Ottawa Gee-Gees at Montpetit Hall. Tip-off is at 6 p.m. for the women and 8 p.m. for the men.
