York women’s basketball team advances to OUA East final

The York Lions women’s basketball team defeated the visiting Ottawa Gee-Gees 69-33 in Ontario University Athletics (OUA) East semifinal action on Tuesday night. The victory extends the Lions winning streak to 11 and is the eighth consecutive game in which the team has kept its opposition under 50 points. York will now host the OUA East final tomorrow against the University of Toronto Varsity Blues.


Laura MacCallum, who was 4-of-5 from three-point range, scored a game-high 16 points and added five rebounds for the Lions. Kim Gibbs chipped in with 12 points, seven rebounds and two steals, while Sarah Brodie collected nine points, nine rebounds and three blocks. Mylaine Megeau added offence off the bench with 12 points on a perfect 4-of-4 from the floor.


Right: Kim Gibbs chipped in with 12 points, seven rebounds and two steals. (Photo by Andrew Craig)


In the first half, York’s defence and poor shot selection caused Ottawa to go a dismal 5-of-22 from the floor. The Gee-Gees did not hit their first field-goal of the contest until the 10-minute mark of the opening frame. The Lions began to heat up late in the half. Solid defence from Gibbs (two steals) and perfect three-point shooting from Megeau, who went 2-of-2 from beyond the arc, gave York a 33-15 lead at the break.



The Lions carried the momentum into the second, going on a 32-9 run. MacCallum scored 14 of her 16 points and went a perfect 4-of-4 from behind the three-point line. Moronike Laleye, Ottawa’s second leading scorer in the regular season, tried her best to get her team back in the game but the York defence was too strong.


Laleye scored a team-high 11 points, grabbed a team-high eight rebounds and added three blocks. Hilary Foster had seven points, while Sarah Hrehoriak chipped in with four.


The Lions will host the OUA East final on Saturday night (Feb. 25, game time at 6pm) against Toronto. The winner advances to the OUA final on March 4 and will earn a berth in the Canadian Interuniversity Sports National Championship in Fredericton, New Brunswick, March 10-12. Ticket prices for both games are $5 for adults, $3 for students/seniors; children 12 and under are free. To order tickets or for more information, contact Sport York communications & promotions officer Kimberly Moser at kmoser@yorku.ca or call ext. 55982.


This story was submitted to YFile by Don Lane, sport information assistant.