After a gutsy second-semester resurgence following a rough nine-game losing to streak to start the year, the 2013-2014 season is now over for the Lions women’s basketball team. While most students were off on reading week, the Lions lost to the Ottawa Gee-Gees 70-46 in the first round of the Ontario University Athletics’ playoffs.
Despite a balanced team effort in terms of scoring, the Lions could not contain Ottawa’s fiery offense led by Francesca Bellehumeu, who finished the game with 23 points.
York was aware defeating the Gee-Gees would be no easy task as their polar opposite records indicated. After winning their first game of the season, the Lions went on to drop nine straight contests, leaving themselves with an uphill battle second semester for even a sniff at the playoffs.
The Lions came back like champions though, winning seven out of their 10 games from January 10 to February 8, catapulting themselves back into the playoff picture with just a few games remaining. In some ways, the fact that the Lions even got a chance to play the Gee-Gees was an accomplishment in itself.
Unfortunately, Ottawa’s strong regular season play continued into the playoffs, where they asserted their dominance over the Lions with a 26-4 first-quarter thrashing. The Gee-Gees were then able to coast to victory as the Lions battled valiantly to close the gap. York was able to match their opponent in the final three quarters, scoring 42 points while Ottawa managed 44, but the damage from the first quarter was far too much to overcome.
The Lions have not reached double digits in the wins column since the 2007-2008 season. In what seems to be a never-ending drought, York finished with a disappointing 8-14 record this season. Road woes proved to be the Achilles heel for the team who went just 2-9 when playing away from Tait Mckenzie.
Averaging 10 points and four rebounds per game in her five-year career with York, guard Nadia Qahwash has been a consistent bright spot for the team and will surely be missed in the years to come. Leaving with her is guard Kayla Pangos, who finished the season with a career-high 7.3 points per game, along with 3.5 rebounds per game.
While championship hopes are currently on hold, there is a lengthy list of positives waiting to be checked off by the team before next season begins.
Amjed Al Salman
Staff Writer
