March 3, 2017

Top-seeded Gaels off to Critelli Cup final Saturday night with 64-56 win over Windsor

KINGSTON, Ont. (March 3, 2017) - The first-seeded Queen's Gaels took down the fourth-seeded Windsor Lancers 64-56 from the Athletics and Recreation Centre (ARC) at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario.

Windsor

Queen's

Final

Windsor

Queen's

KINGSTON, Ont. (March 3, 2017) - The first-seeded Queen's Gaels took down the fourth-seeded Windsor Lancers 64-56 from the Athletics and Recreation Centre (ARC) at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario.

OUA Bronze: Saturday, 6 pm Queen's ARC | Tickets

OUA Gold: Saturday, 8 pm Queen's ARC | Tickets

The Gaels saw a strong performance by fifth-year guard Emily Hazlett who led all scorers with 22 points on 10-16 shooting while adding six rebound and five assists. Windsor's Emily Prevost went 7-14 for 17 points to lead all Lancers.

Queen's was able to take advantage of 28 Lancer turnovers for 24 points while the Gaels committed just 18 in the game.

"This is something we've been working toward all year," said Hazlett after the win. "Now that we have the chance to win the Critelli Cup tomorrow at home and then move on to try and win the bronze baby; everyone is just excited."

The game started off with a quick first bucket to the visiting Windsor Lancers who held and early lead thanks to some cold shooting from the home side Queen's Gaels.

Hazlett put the Gaels on her back from there, making quick moves for buckets with an around-the-back past the Lancer defence and a fake-pass she took straight to the hoop.

The Gaels took a 17-13 lead after the opening frame.

Prevost and Caitlyn Longmuir showed why the Lancers have been such a dominant team in the OUA in recent years as they led the Lancer offense to get back into the game. Prevost put up nine of her 11 first-half points in the second frame as the Lancers briefly pulled ahead.

Hazlett continued to shoot well for Queen's, however, finishing 6-7 in the opening half and it was all tied up at 32-32 at the break.

Two of the better teams in the country went toe-to-toe through the third which saw the lead swinging back and forth.

A seven-point effort from Andrea Priamo gave the Gaels a two-point lead heading into the final frame.

Queen's continued to push the pace into the fourth quarter as the Lancers bench started to get more minutes as their starters found themselves in foul trouble.

The momentum shifted the Gaels way as the crowd erupted for a Marianne Alarie steal that turned into points for Queen's.

From there the Gaels defence stayed strong, and Queen's was able to fend off the Lancers for a 64-56 victory.

"I wasn't concerned when we were tied at halftime because I knew that if we kept the pace up, they would be tired come the fourth quarter," said Gaels coach Dave Wilson. "It was a hell of a performance from a fifth-year player (Hazlett) who knows how to control a game and allows me almost to just sit back."

The Gaels will now advance to the OUA Critelli Cup Championship tomorrow night at 8 pm at the Queen's ARC. Queen's will meet the winner of Carleton and McMaster while Windsor will take on the loser for the OUA bronze medal at 6 pm.