Queen's vs. Ottawa January 29, 2008

Gaels Lose 68-63 To Ottawa
by Queen's University Sports information Office

The Queen's Golden Gaels were outscored 18-10 in the third quarter and that was the difference as they were defeated 68-63 by the visiting Ottawa Gee Gees Tuesday night in Kingston. The Gaels who led 33-32 at halftime allowed Ottawa to score 12 of the last 16 points of the third quarter to lead 50-43 through 30 minutes.

Queen's started slowly after scoring the game's first two points as Ottawa built a 9-3 lead with 6:50 left in the opening quarter. The Gaels proceeded to respond with an 11-3 run for the next three minutes to lead 14-12. Queen's were ahead 19-18 after the quarter behind eight points from rookie guard Brittany Moore of Hannon, Ont.

To start the second quarter Queen's scored the first six points to lead 25-18 with just 1:45 gone. However, the Gee Gees answered with an 11-2 run over the next five minutes to retake the lead at 29-27. The teams exchanged baskets the final three minutes with Anne Murphy of Milford, Ont. hitting a jumper from the right elbow of the key just before the halftime buzzer to make it 33-32 Queen's at the break. The Gee Gees blocked six Gaels shots in the first 20 minutes.

In the key third quarter the Gee Gees scored the first four points and then after an Alaina Porter of Burlington, Ont. basket made it 41-40 Queen's with 3:05 left Ottawa closed with a 10-2 run to lead 50-43.

The fourth quarter saw the Gaels sloppy play continue and the visitors took advantage. Katie Laurie of Ottawa scored back to back baskets to cap a 8-3 run and put the Gee Gees ahead 58-46 with 6:18 remaining. The Gaels who were playing the game without guard Jaime Dale of Ottawa who was injured and then starting guard Teddi Firmi fouled out with 5:04 left and her team trailing 59-50.

The Gee Gees continued to keep the lead and after a Laurier basket with 90 seconds left were in front 65-53. The Gaels tried to make a valiant comeback as Sarah Barnes of St. Catharines, Ont. and Christine Wallace of North Gower, Ont. hit three point shots 24 seconds apart to make it 65-61. The Gee Gees were able to hang on though and win just their second game of the season but second in their last three.

Ottawa got a great performance from Sarah Van Hooydonk of Edmonton, Alta. who scored a game high 24 points while Laurie added 18 and Emilie Morasse of Beauport, Que. chipped in with 14.

For Queen's Moore scored a team high 18 points with Porter adding 12 but Gaels leading scorer Sarah Barnes was held to eight points on two of ten shooting from the floor.

The loss drops the Gaels to 7-11 and leaves them in fourth just four points ahead of fifth place Carleton who defeated RMC tonight 63-44. Queen's is home this weekend when they play the Laurentian Voyageurs Friday night February 1st at 6pm in the the Bartlett Gym.