A quick roundup of Queen’s Gaels teams and athletes in action over the weekend:

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

The Queen’s Gaels (9-5) defeated the Toronto Varsity Blues (3-11) 87-38 on Saturday night at the ARC Main Gym on the annual Shoot for the Cure night. 

Shoot for the Cure is a U Sports women’s basketball fundraising initiative to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) – and other related local and provincial charities – which ran for a 12^th straight year. To make a donation visit gogaelsgo.com/shootforthecure.

The Gaels got off to a good start with Veronika Lavergne and Laura Donovan leading a strong Gaels offence that pushed the lead to 40-15 at the half.

The Gaels cruised in the second half, stretching out their comfortable lead even. The Gaels were led by first-year guard Donovan with 15 points (a career high) while Sophie de Goede was formidable on the boards with 13 rebounds and finished with a double-double after scoring 10.

On Friday, the Gaels fell to the high-powered Ryerson Rams (11-2) 79-58 at the ARC. 

The Rams came out big on offence and were just as strong on defence forcing the Gaels into many turnovers and missed shots.

In the second half, the Gaels kept fighting but struggled to close the advantage. The Gaels did manage to win the final quarter 24-20, but it was too little, too late, as the Rams cruised to a 79-58 victory. Leading the way for the Gaels was Emma Weltz with 11 points. 

MEN’S BASKETBALL

The Queen’s Gaels (8-6) fell to the Toronto Varsity Blues (6-8) 71-68 on Saturday at the ARC Main Gym. 

The Gaels struggled with consistency in the opening quarter, often settling for tough shots and trailed 20-15. The Gaels battled back in the second, but a mid-quarter Blues run saw the visitors pull away again for a 41-28 lead at the half.

In the second half the Gaels closed the gap to five points several times but the Varsity Blues managed to hang on for the victory. Quinton Gray led all scorers for the Gaels with 22 points.

On Friday, the Gaels fell to the No. 2 Ryerson Rams (12-1) 84-62 at the ARC. The Gaels fell behind 24-9 early against a physically-imposing Rams team featuring 7-foot-2 Senegalese centre Tanor Ngom. While the Gaels managed to make some adjustments they were unable to catch up much and went into the half trailing 47-27. The Gaels went on an 11-3 run to open the third but the Rams were just too much in the long run and held on for the win.

Leading the way for the Gaels in the game was Tanner Graham with 17 points and nine rebounds.

WOMEN’S HOCKEY

The Queen's Gaels (9-6-0-0) picked up a 4-3 road victory Friday over the Ryerson Rams (7-5-2-1) in OUA women’s hockey action in Toronto.

Addi Halladay put the Gaels ahead in the first period and Hailey Wilson made it 2-0 in the second. But the Rams Charged back with a pair of goals 41 seconds apart in the third to tie it up. Quinn Johnston scored the winner with a wrap-around and Bridgid Goris added an empty-netter to secure the win.

On Saturday, the Gaels ran into a red-hot Toronto Varsity Blues (8-5-1-1) team and fell 1-0.

It was a fairly uneventful start to the game as both teams had limited offensive opportunities. However, the Varsity Blues were able to find the net as a weird bounce off the boards behind the net resulted in a loose puck caught behind Gaels’ goaltender Makenzy Arsenault. Toronto's Avery Henry was there to tap in the puck for the game’s lone goal.

The Gaels had opportunities throughout the game but Toronto’s Erica Fryer managed to maintain the shutout.

MEN’S HOCKEY

The No. 7 Queen's Gaels (15-5-0) defeated the Nipissing Lakers (6-13-0) 4-1 to secure a berth in the OUA playoffs. After two gritty periods the Gaels were able to pull away in the third and ensured that their season will continue in February.
After the Lakers opened the scoring in the first, Jack Flinn shut the door the rest of the way.  

Slater Doggett scored a pair of goals before Luke Edwards made it 3-1. On a late powerplay, Graeme Brown scored on a shot from the point to put the nail in the coffin and secure the Gaels victory.

On Friday the Gaels recorded a 4-2 win over the Laurentian Voyageurs (5-12-1). Doggett opened the scoring in the first period on a breakaway opportunity after exiting the penalty box. Later in the period, Henry Thompson wired a rebound on the powerplay to make it 2-0. But the lead was short-lived as the Voyageurs struck back twice to tie it up by the end of the first period.

After a scoreless second, Alex Row found the winner and Thompson netted an insurance marker with his second of the game.