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Badgers’ women’s basketball team shows fight in tough losses in Ottawa

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The Badgers’ women’s basketball team dropped both games in Ottawa this weekend, falling 81-79 in overtime to the Carleton Ravens – the number one ranked team in the country – on Friday, before losing 74-56 to the Ottawa Gee-Gees on Saturday to close out the trip. 

In game one in the nation’s capital, Brock graciously welcomed the return of Oluwatito Akinnusi, who missed the last game with an injury.  

The Psychology major made her presence felt early, as she scored 11 of the Badgers’ 16 points in the first quarter on five-for-seven shooting. However, the Ravens also shot the ball exceptionally well in the frame, shooting 52.9 per cent, leading to 22 points and the early advantage. 

In the second frame, Brock stepped it up on both sides of the floor. Offensively, the Badgers shot nearly 54 per cent, as a balanced attack by Akinnusi, Angeline Campbell and Madalyn Weinert had 16 of the team’s 19 points. Defensively, Brock defenders limited the Ravens to only one three-pointer made on eight attempts, as Carleton only scored 16 points in the quarter. 

Heading into halftime, the Carleton lead was cut to three, 38-35, as Brock’s stellar defence carried into the third. 

The Badgers only allowed 12 points in the third, as Brock restricted the Ravens to an abysmal three field goals made in the quarter. However, seven Brock fouls kept the reigning U Sports National Champions in the game as they made six free throws to end the third quarter down one. 

Foul trouble haunted both teams in the fourth, as they combined for 15 free throws made – seven for Brock and eight for Carleton – on 21 attempts. Two of Carleton’s eight free throws were made by Kali Pocrinic with 10 seconds left to give the Ravens the three-point lead. 

With five seconds remaining, Brock guard Campbell scored one of her game-high six three-pointers to tie the game at 71 and force overtime. 

In overtime, the Ravens got off to a rapid start, going on a 5-0 run, but the Badgers responded swiftly. Weinert and Olivia Fiorucci scored mid-range jump shots, before Campbell made another crucial three with an and-one for the four-point play, to even the game at 79. 

With the game tied and the clock ticking, fans were on their feet at the Ravens Nest in Ottawa. Zerina Duvnjak scored with one second left to win the game for Carleton and hand Brock their second consecutive loss to fall to 2-2 this season. 

Despite the loss, the Badgers showed their ability to compete with a top-tier opponent and were hoping that their fight and hustle can translate into a win the following day against another high-calibre team, the Ottawa Gee-Gees. 

Against the Gee-Gees, the game started off slow but quickly changed course as the intensity picked up. 

Madison MacInnis was a noticeable presence in the first, as the six-foot forward used her size and strength to terrorize the Ottawa defenders in the paint, scoring six of her eight points in the quarter.  

Campbell, one of the Badgers’ Athlete of the Week, also had a positive impact for the Badgers as her playmaking abilities led to superb ball movement leading to quality looks for her teammates. The Toronto-native had three of her four assists in the quarter which contributed to the Badgers only being down one, 24-23, at the end of the first. 

In the second, Aubrey Ntetani Umba provided a much-needed spark off the bench. The third-year Business Administration major scored two three-pointers in only three minutes of action to briefly give the Badgers the lead. 

But the Badgers lead was short-lived as the Gee-Gees started to take control of the game following Umba’s second made three. 

Ottawa went on a 16-8 run to close the half, in large part due to the Gee-Gees shooting 46.7 per cent in the quarter, compared to the Badgers’ 33.3 per cent. 

The shooting disparity was a main contributor in Ottawa being up 44-37 at half as Brock’s shooting woes continued in the third. 

The Badgers shot a dreadful 6.7 per cent in the third as Fiorucci’s jump shot eight and a half minutes into the quarter was the only basket Brock made in the frame. 

Fortunately for the Badgers, the Gee-Gees also shot a poor 18.8 per cent. But just like the game against the Ravens, foul trouble was problematic for Brock.  

Six Badger personal fouls led to seven free throws made for Ottawa which was the difference in the quarter, as Brock found themselves down 57-39 entering the fourth, needing a big comeback to salvage a win on the road trip. 

In attempting a comeback, the bench trio of Umba, Emilia Vlatkovic and Ottawa-native Keren Tshinyama Kasonga combined to score nine of Brock’s 17 points in the fourth. However, Ottawa also re-found their game in the quarter, matching Brock’s point total of 17, to win the game 74-56 for their fourth win of the season. 

The sweep at the hands of Ottawa opponents serves as important preparation for next weekend’s tough matches given the Badgers are hoping to get back in the win column. 

On Friday night, the OUA East leading Queen’s Gaels (6-0) head to town before a Saturday showdown against rival McMaster Marauders (5-1) takes over the Meridian Centre for the annual event. Tickets for Paint the Meridian Red can be purchased at ticketmaster.ca, and head to gobadgers.ca for more information about the Brock Badgers women’s basketball team. 

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