The Queen's Gaels women's basketball team finished the U SPORTS Women's Basketball Final 8 Championship as national silver medalists. The Gaels were stopped by the Carleton Ravens 71-59 in the championship game Sunday night in Sydney, N.S.

“This stings, but we have to understand what we've done in the last two years,” head coach Claire Meadows said after the game. “I think we've really changed the program in terms of what we do, how we do it, how people view us. I'm so incredibly proud of that group of people. They're incredible human beings, they have the utmost character, and it shows when we play.”

After a tight first half that saw the Gaels take a five-point lead into halftime, Carleton went on a third quarter run. Queen's battled hard in the fourth to close the gap, but the Ravens managed to hold on for the 12-point win.

Queen's shot lights out in the first half, led by Laura Donovan, who hit four three-pointers in the half and finished the game with a game-high 23 points. Donovan was named Player of the Game for Queen's.

Bridget Mulholland was a force again for the Gaels, capping an impressive national championship tournament with 17 points and six rebounds, while finishing 3-for-4 from beyond the arc.

Donovan and Mulholland were named U SPORTS Women's Basketball Final 8 tournament All-Stars for their perfomances over the weekend after the game.

The Gaels’ historic season comes to an end with their best-ever finish at the national championship. One year after capturing bronze at the U SPORTS Women's Basketball Final 8 Championship, the Gaels earned their best regular season record in program history (21-1) and their first ever national silver medal.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

The Queen's Gaels men's basketball team was edged 89-85 by the UQAM Citadins in the Consolation Final at the U SPORTS Men's Basketball Final 8 Championship in Halifax. With the loss, the Gaels finished the national championship in sixth place.

The game was tight throughout, with a strong second quarter by the Citadins the difference. The teams were deadlocked after the first quarter before UQAM outscored Queen's 26-17 in the second quarter to take a nine-point lead into half time. The Gaels would outscore UQAM in both the third and fourth quarter, but their comeback attempt ultimately fell just short.

Luka Syllas was strong for Queen's all game, leading the Gaels with a double-double, recording 23 points and 10 rebounds. Syllas was named Queen's Player of the Game for his efforts.

Cole Syllas also netted 23 points for Queen's while Michael Kelvin 11 finished with 16 points and seven rebounds and Cam Bett added 11 points.

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL

The Queen's Gaels women's volleyball team fell in heartbreaking fashion, losing in five sets (24-26, 16-25, 25-23, 27-25, 15-13) to the Brock Badgers in the OUA Quigley Cup Championship Saturday night in St. Catharines.

The Gaels used extra points to jump out to a 1-0 lead after the first set and took the second set in convincing fashion. But the Badgers managed to battle back, edging Queen's in the third set before an extra points win in the fourth set sent the championship game to a fifth and deciding set.

Queen's battled hard but ultimately fell by just two points, 15-13, to end up as the OUA silver medalists.

Hannah Duchesneau led the Gaels with 17 kills, while also contributing 10 blocks. Mary Stewart finished with 14 kills and a team-high 11 digs while Amanda Siksna recorded 11 blocks and three aces. Shea Baker added a game-high 54 assists for the Gaels.

The Gaels entered the OUA Playoffs as the No. 7 seed before two straight-sets wins sent them to the Quigley Cup.