Gaels teams return to OUA action after winter break

Gaels teams return to OUA action after winter break

By Communications Staff

January 7, 2019

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[Jared Bethune - Gaels men's hockey]
Queen's Gaels forward Jared Bethune tries to put the puck past UOIT Ridgebacks goalie Michael Bullion during Saturday's OUA men's hockey game at the Memorial Centre. (Photo by Robin Kasem)

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

MEN'S HOCKEY

The No. 5 Queen's Gaels men’s hockey team (13-5-0) earned a weekend split as they returned to OUA action with a home-and-home series with the UOIT Ridgebacks (10-5-4). The Gaels picked up a 2-1 shootout win in Oshawa on Friday before falling 5-1 Saturday night at the Memorial Centre.

Ahead of Saturday's home game, Gaels defenceman Spencer Abraham was presented as this year's Murray Douglas Scholarship recipient.

On Friday, Henry Thompson scored the lone goal for the Gaels in regulation and goalie Justin Fazio had a strong game in net, only allowing a powerplay goal in the second period.

Slater Doggett and Spencer Abraham scored in the shootout and Fazio stopped both UOIT shooters.

On Saturday, the Ridgebacks got out to a 4-0 lead after 40 minutes as the Gaels got into penalty trouble. Doggett scored early in the third but UOIT added another for the 5-1 final score.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

The Queen's Gaels women’s basketball team (8-4) also split their games, beating the Laurentian Voyageurs (3-8) 63-46 on Friday and losing 61-48 to the Nipissing Lakers (3-9) a day later.

In Sudbury on Friday, the Gaels came out strong and took a 39-30 lead into the half. After Laurentian closed to within three points, the Gaels pulled away for a comfortable win. Leading the way for the Gaels was Veronika Lavergne with 13 points and eight rebounds.

On Saturday, the Gaels faltered in North Bay, as they played the second game of their northern road trip. Queen’s started off well but then struggled in the second as Nippissing took a 32-30 lead into the break.

The struggles continued in the second half and the Lakers held on for a 61-48 win.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

The Queen's Gaels men’s basketball team (8-4) swept their northern road trip defeating the Laurentian Voyageurs (5-6) 87-80 on Friday and beating the Nipissing Lakers (2-10) 84-63.

In Sudbury on Friday reigning U Sports male athlete of the year Kadre Gray helped lift the host Voyageurs to an early 20-15 lead but the Gaels weren’t about to break. After going into the half trailing 38-35, the Gaels kept the score even before putting on a fourth quarter push to grab an 87-80 win.Leading the way for the Gaels was Tanner Graham with 22 points and Quinton Gray who added 19 points.

In North Bay on Saturday, after being down 5-2 in the opening minutes, the Gaels went on a 20-2 run. However the Lakers weren’t going away and the Gaels lead was just 32-29 at halftime.

The second half saw the Gaels explode offensively as the Tricolour posted 29 points in the third quarter and another 23 in the fourth for a comfortable 84-63 win. Jaz Bains finished with a double-double scoring a game-high 22 points while adding 10 assists. Tanner Graham had 21 points with six rebounds and five assists while Quinton Gray had 19 points.