Basketball Lions sweep their GTA rivals

York’s women’s basketball team remains in first place in the Ontario University Athletics’ East Division following weekend victories over Ryerson and Toronto. Kim Gibbs scored a team-high 14 points in Friday’s 64-58 overtime win against the Rams. Brenan Rurak added 13 points and recorded a team-high eight rebounds. On Saturday, the Lions dominated the Varsity Blues, winning 75-59 in front of a full house on hand for Sport York’s Annual Staff, Faculty and Alumni Appreciation Night. Four players scored in double-figures for York, who led 41-16 at halftime. The Lions (12-3) will play at RMC (0-15) and Queen’s (9-6) this weekend.


The men’s basketball team also defeated Ryerson and Toronto on the weekend. Jordan Foebel dominated in the paint, scoring a game-high 35 points and adding 12 rebounds in York’s 78-68 win over the Rams. The Lions delighted the fans on hand for Staff, Faculty and Alumni Appreciation Night by ending the tenth-ranked Varsity Blues 10-game conference winning streak with a 72-62 upset victory. The Lions (8-7), winners of three of their last four, will visit RMC (0-14) and Queen’s (3-11) this weekend.


Right: Lions’ Ryan Anderson goes up for the kill in volleyball action against Western Saturday at York (Andrew Craig photo)


The women’s hockey team picked up three of a possible four points in two games last week. Serene Porter and Jessica Turi scored, while Melanie Quinn made 33 saves in goal, as the Lions tied No. 7-ranked Toronto on Wednesday. Turi and Mandy Cole had the York goals in Sunday’s 2-0 win over Waterloo. Quinn made 24 saves for her second shutout of the season. The Lions (5-6-5) host the Warriors (4-11-2) again on Saturday and Queen’s (8-7-1) on Sunday at the Ice Gardens.


The men’s hockey team was victorious in its only game last week. Defenceman Steve Chabbert scored twice and assisted on two others in the Lions 4-2 win over Guelph on Saturday. First-year forward Tyler Harrison had the other York goals, while goaltender Kevin Druce made 28 saves. The Lions (9-6-1-2) hit the road for a pair of tough games against the ninth-ranked Waterloo Warriors (11-4-3) on Thursday and the fouth-ranked Western Mustangs on Saturday (17-1-1).


The Lions track and field teams recorded 10 personal best and 14 OUA qualifying performances at the Nike Track Classic at the University of Toronto last weekend. Anthony Garber and Marlon Nangle continue to roll. Garber qualified for the OUA Championship and finished first in the 60 metre dash with a time of 6.97, while Nangle won the triple jump with an OUA/Canadian Interuniversity Sport qualifying performance of 14.91 metres. In women’s action, Michelle Rawlins finished fourth in the long jump with a jump of 5.02 metres, while Ovalyn McDonald was fifth with a performance of 5.00 metres. The Lions will compete at the McGill Team Challenge this weekend.


The defending OUA Champion York men’s volleyball team increased its winning streak to four games with a pair of victories last week. Sholan Trivedi led York with 20 kills in Wednesday’s 3-2 victory over Laurier. Trivedi, Jordan Matthews, and Ryan Anderson all had big games for York, with 14, 10, and nine kills respectively in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Western. James Battiston added nine kills and six blocks for the Lions. The Lions (9-5) host Guelph (6-10) on Thursday and Windsor (4-9) on Saturday.


The women’s volleyball team split a pair of matches last week, defeating Brock 3-2 on Wednesday and losing 3-2 to Ottawa on Saturday. Elizabeth Salas-Chavez recorded a game-high 19 kills against Brock, while Nicole Carleton-Burnham added 12 kills. Ainsley Martinez had a team-high nine kills against Ottawa. The Lions (8-5) host Guelph on Thursday (1-14).


This article was submitted to YFile by Jim McLarty, sport & recreation information officer in York’s School of Kinesiology & Health Science.