WBB | Queen’s Handles Laurentian for 20th Win of the Season
It was an unfortunate Saturday evening for the Laurentian women's basketball team, as they fell 86–49 on the road to the second-ranked team in the country, the Queen's Gaels.
Both teams got off to slow offensive starts, with the first field goal of the game coming four minutes in, on a Gaels three-pointer. Queen's built on that momentum moments later with another three from Bella Gaudet, before Gaudet capped the opening quarter with another long ball to give the home side a 20–12 lead.
Laurentian started the second quarter on a positive note with a three-pointer from Molly Adams—one of three she made on the night—but the Gaels continued to roll. By halftime, Queen's had stretched its lead to 20 points as they pushed toward their 20th win of the season.
Gaudet picked up right where she left off to open the third quarter, knocking down a pair of threes in quick succession to further distance the Gaels from the reeling Voyageurs. By the end of the third, Queen's had built a commanding 33-point lead. With the outcome no longer in doubt, both teams emptied their benches in the fourth quarter as the Gaels closed out another dominant performance.
Claudia Pellerin led Laurentian with 17 points, though nine turnovers proved costly for the Voyageurs. Queen's relied on a balanced offensive attack, with Gaudet scoring 16 points, Kiyara Letlow recording a double-double with 13 points and 15 rebounds, and Haley Barbieri providing a spark off the bench with 20 points, including three made three-pointers.
The Gaels controlled the glass, outscoring Laurentian by 17 points in second-chance opportunities. Defensively, Queen's also limited the Voyageurs to just five assists, a testament to their pressure and discipline.
Laurentian did what was expected over the weekend, defeating last-place Ontario Tech before falling to first-place Queen's. The Voyageurs still control their path to hosting a playoff game, with their final two regular-season contests coming at home against Carleton and Ottawa on Friday and Saturday.
- Olly Sankar