Banner Season: Nation's top-ranked teams come together for Critelli Cup clash
Burlington, Ont. (via David DiCenzo) – Two teams have separated themselves from the women’s hoops pack this season. The Queen’s Gaels and the Carleton Ravens, ranked No. 1 and 2 respectively in all of Canada, clash this weekend with an Ontario University Athletics banner at stake.
Championship Details
When: Saturday, March 4 (7:00pm)
Where: Athletics & Recreation Centre (Queen’s University)
Participating Schools (2): Carleton Ravens, Queen’s Gaels (host)
Watch: oua.tv / cbcsports.ca / CBC Gem
Defending Champions: TMU Bold
The Gaels earned their spot at the top of the U SPORTS rankings with a near-perfect season. Queen’s simply ploughed through the OUA schedule. Conference coach of the year Claire Meadows led her impressive group to 21 wins over the course of the year, the lone loss coming to their championship-game opponent, a 64-32 defeat at Carleton back on January 27th.
The Gaels rebounded from that stumble by closing their campaign with seven straight wins. No OUA team was more efficient from the floor, as Queen’s led the league in field goal percentage (41.5), while finishing second in points per game at 74.8. Their style of play was evident in its execution, as the aggressive approach also had the Gaels ranked first in both turnovers per game (13.3) and fouls (13).
The Queen’s talent was too much for most of the opposition. First team all-star forward Julia Chadwick emerged as a dominant force in her third year, scoring a team-high 16.4 PPG, while leading all OUA players in rebounds with 12 per game. With support from veteran guard and Tracy MacLeod Award recipient Bridget Mulholland (7.7 PPG, 6.8 RPG, and 2.3 APG) and fourth-year guard Emma Weltz (9 PPG, 3.5 RPG, and a team-high 3.3 APG), Queen’s was difficult to contain. But that trio wasn’t the only issue for OUA foes. Fourth-year guard Laura Donovan (12.9 PPG) was named a third-team all-star, while first-year player Isabella Gaudet (7 PPG, 3.1 RPG, and 82.9 FT%) earned a spot on the all-rookie team.
The Gaels’ only provincial banner came back in 2001, but this edition of the Tricolour is intensely focused on adding a second. After a bye in the opening round of the Critelli Cup playoffs, Queen’s got to work in a tough 71-66 win over the Brock Badgers. Next up was a visit from Waterloo and the hosts disposed of the Warriors in the semifinal with a balanced attack. Four players had double-digit performances therein, led by Weltz’s 20 points and Mulholland posting a timely double-double with 13 points and 12 boards. Weltz leads the team in postseason scoring at 17 per contest, while Chadwick (9.5 PPG, 14 RPG) and Mulholland (9.5 PPG) have been critical to the run. Each of the Big Three has four assists per game in the two playoff matchups as well, showing the team’s willingness to share the ball when it matters most.
Carleton’s rookie head coach Dani Sinclair, who won the national championship as a Victoria Vikes player 20 years ago, guided a powerhouse team worthy of the number two spot in the nation. The Ravens (19-3, 2-0) were a menace to face, ranking second in the league in both points allowed (54.8) and field goal percentage allowed (30.6). Despite their youth, the team’s character and tenacity were evident when they avenged a 71-65 loss to the top-ranked Gaels last November by shutting down the Queen’s stars in that important home-court win in late January.
Dynamic point guard Kali Pocrnic was a catalyst on the young squad. The backcourt star led the Ravens in both scoring (16.3 PPG) and assists (4.1 APG), standout numbers that earned her OUA first-team all-star honours. First-year phenom Jacqueline Urban was the perfect complement, taking the OUA Rookie of the Year Award after averaging a double-double (10 PPG and 10.8 RPG) in her debut season. Fellow rook Dorcas Buisa (9.1 PPG, 5.3 RPG, and 2.4 APG) was named an OUA third-team all-star, while veteran Emma Kiesekamp, the only fourth-year eligible player on the roster, chipped in 7.5 points and 7 rebounds per contest.
Carleton was tested in its Critelli Cup opener but showed the poise to knock out defending OUA and U Sports champion Toronto Metropolitan with a massive 67-64 win. They rolled in the semifinal, taking down the McMaster Marauders 69-55. Four players scored double digits in the decisive victory, with Pocrnic leading all Ravens offensively with 21 points. Mimicking her regular season numbers, Pocrnic has averaged 17 points and 3.5 assists in the two postseason wins.
The big stage is set with No 1 versus No 2. Carleton has championship pedigree, having won back-to-back OUA banners in 2017 and 2018, including a national title following that second straight Critelli Cup. While the future is certainly bright, the hungry Ravens are focused on more hardware right now. But it won’t be easy. It would take beating the best team in the country for a second consecutive time. And the Gaels have a rare opportunity – to cap a dream season on home court holding the school’s second championship banner.
OUA hoops fans couldn’t ask for a better matchup.
