The winter playoffs season for Ontario University Athletics (OUA) is underway and a number of Queen’s Gaels teams have put in some excellent performances.

Here’s a quick look at the Gaels teams and athletes:

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Leading the way is the women’s basketball squad that compiled a league-best 21-1 record and claiming the No. 1 seed for the OUA playdowns. The team has advanced to the provincial final with a 69-62 semifinal win over the Waterloo Warriors on Wednesday and a 71-66 win over the Brock Badgers in the quarterfinals on Saturday.

Up next for the Gaels will be a rubber match with the Carleton Ravens for the Critelli Cup. Queen's and Carleton split their regular season series, with the Gaels winning 71-65 at the ARC in November before the Ravens bounced back for a 64-32 win in Ottawa in January.

The final will be played Saturday, March 4 at 7 p.m. at the ARC. Tickets can be purchased in store and online at the Q Shop. Tickets at $12 online/$15 at point of sale for adults, $8 online/$10 point of sale for Youth (5-12), and $8 online/$10 point of sale for Queen's students.

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL

The Gaels won their quarterfinal match, upsetting the second-seeded Western Mustangs in London with a straight-sets win (25-23, 25-22, 25-21). The Gaels finished the regular season with an 11-9 record, good enough for seventh place.

Up next is a semifinal matchup with the third-seeded Waterloo Warriors on Saturday, March 4 in Waterloo. The winner will advance to the final on Saturday, March 11.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

The Gaels season came to an end on Wednesday night after a hard-fought 93-86 loss against the top-seeded Carleton Ravens in the OUA semifinals. The Gaels finished the regular season with a 17-5 record, placing third in the OUA East conference.

The Gaels beat the Western Mustangs 98-85 in the opening round and then topped the Brock Badgers 82-80 to reach the semifinals.

Carleton will face the Ottawa Gee-Gees in the final on Saturday, March 4.

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL

The Gaels finished the regular season with a 11-9 record, placing fifth overall. However, they lost to the fourth-seeded York Lions in the opening playoff round in three sets (21-25, 25-15 , 26-24 , 26-24).

VARSITY CLUBS

The OUA Track and Field Championships were held in Windsor on Feb. 25-26 and several Gaels were able to make the podium.

Jude Wheeler-Dee claimed a pair of gold medals in the men’s 1,000-metre and 1,500-metre events while the women’s 4x800 relay team of Gillian Porter, Madelyn Bullock, Olivia Hendrikx, and Elizabeth Vroom won the bronze.

A number of other Gaels put in personal bests and placed well in their respective events.

The Gaels sailing team recently competed in the CICSA Keelboat Match Racing National Championship in Vancouver and, despite difficult conditions, placed second losing by only a feet to the University of Toronto in the final.

In fencing the Gaels women’s team captured the overall bronze and the men placed fourth at the provincial finals hosted by Brock University on Feb. 17-19.

In curling, the Gaels men’s team claimed the silver and the women’s team placed fourth at the OUA championships.

Visit the Athletics and Recreation website for more scores and schedules.