By the Numbers: Clutch comebacks and heroics spark thrilling week of play

Photo by Lakehead Thunderwolves
Photo by Lakehead Thunderwolves
November 20, 2019

32 - Thus far in the season, the No. 3 Ottawa Gee-Gees men’s basketball team have been led by fifth-year guard Calvin Epistola. Over the weekend, the Toronto native lit up the stat sheet once again, scoring 20 points against Guelph before pouring in a career-high 32 points against Algoma. It was not only Epistola’s scoring that was outstanding, however, but his ability to set up his teammates as well, posting seven and nine assists respectively in the two games. Epistola now sits third in the OUA in points per game (23.7) and fifth in assists (30).

22 – It was a productive weekend in two regards for York Lions Lauren Golding, who carried her women’s basketball team to a pair of wins against the Greater Toronto combatants. Golding averaged a double-double during the two-game stretch, pouring in a total of 33 points and pulling down 22 rebounds to lead the Lions. While her scoring was impressive, the presence on the glass has been Golding’s calling card this season, and with another double-digit performance in tow (13 REB against No. 5 Ryerson), the third-year forward now ranks second in the OUA with 9.8 RPG.

14 – The Lakehead Thunderwolves, in comeback fashion, managed to pick up their first win of the women’s volleyball season this weekend, topping Nipissing by a 3-2 final. After dropping the first two sets, Lakehead showed off their resilience with a determined effort down the stretch that culminated in a 16-14 fifth-set victory. At the heart of the team’s thrilling victory was Meghan Routier, who finished the game with 14 kills, five aces, and an assist.

5.2 – The OUA’s leading scorer on the hardwood sports the purple and gold with pride, and Brianna Iannazzo’s latest performances were her best yet. After starting the weekend with an 18-point outing in Wilfrid Laurier’s 75-73 2OT win over Nipissing – a mark that included the game-winning free-throws – she followed that up with a career-best 26 points in the Golden Hawks’ encore performance against Laurentian. All told, Iannazzo’s point production, which currently sits at 17.9 PPG, is up 5.2 per contest from a season ago.

5:05 – The Queen’s Gaels needed a hero in order to snap their five-game losing skid and a hero is what they got in the form of Eric Margo. With their second game of a back-to-back with UQTR all knotted at two heading into the final period, Margo put his Gaels in front just 57 seconds in. A tying marker from the Patriotes sent the game to overtime, but once again, the fourth-year forward stepped up for his squad when they needed it most. At the 5:05 mark of the extra frame, Margo followed Duncan Campbell’s shot and slid home the rebound to provide Queen’s the much-needed victory.

5 – For just the third time in the history of the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks, a member of the women’s hockey team turned in a five-point performance. Natalie Wozney was the one doing the honours in what was a thrilling 5-4 overtime victory over the nationally-ranked Guelph Gryphons. Not only did Wozney’s three helpers and two goals – including the game-winner – help the Ridgebacks tackle a tough opponent, the historic effort buoyed the Oshawa school to their first win of the season.

4 – After falling behind by a 2-0 score through 40 minutes of play in the annual By Colonel Classic, the Carleton Ravens bounced back in a big way in the third and final frame. The black birds not only came back to tie the Ottawa Gee-Gees just under six minutes into the period, but netted an additional pair of tallies thereafter to bring their total to four unanswered goals in the final 20 minutes, getting past their crosstown rivals by a 4-2 final. Alex Boivin bookended the comeback charge with two goals.

.933 – The wins just keep coming for Rachel Seeley, who continued her unbeaten season in games she has started between the pipes for the Ryerson Rams women’s hockey team. The fourth-year netminder backstopped the Rams to a pair of wins during the difficult road trip up north thanks to a stingy .933 SV%. Seeley started her weekend by turning away 32 of 34 shots against Laurentian and followed it up with a 24-save outing against the No. 10 Nipissing Lakers.

.617 – The Varsity Blues are getting high-class hitting out of their middles this season, with Jenna Woock continuing that potent pace in Toronto’s latest two victories. The third-year standout registered 33 points for the women’s volleyball team, but more impressive than the point totals were the numbers behind it. In registering 11 and 10 kills, respectively, in the two matches, Woock racked up a sizzling .617 hitting percentage from her post to anchor the Blues latest two wins in their six-win streak.