Friday, April 25, 2025
Brock's Only Independent Student Newspaper
One of the only worker-managed newspapers in Canada

Critelli Cup: Carleton beats Queen’s, wins second consecutive OUA women’s basketball championship 

|
|

Carleton Ravens, Canada’s top-ranked team, defeated OUA East Division rival Queen’s Gaels 63-55 to win the Critelli Cup for the second straight year. 

Kali Pocrnic, 2023-24 OUA first-team all-star, led the reigning U SPORTS National Champions with a game-high 20 points, scoring six in the first quarter. 

The fourth-year guard began the game on fire, draining two of her six made three-pointers in the opening three minutes, leading the Ravens to an 8-0 run to start the game. 

It wasn’t until the midway point of the first that Queen’s got on the board, but points were hard to come by for the Gaels in the opening quarter. The Ravens did a fantastic job on the defensive end, registering three steals and two blocks, forcing the Gaels to take low-percentage shots.  

As such, Queen’s shot an abysmal 14.3 per cent (2-14) in the quarter, while Carleton shot 31.3 per cent (5-16), leading to a 13-6 lead after one. 

In the second, the Gaels’ Laura Donovan – who led her team with 18 points – nailed a three a minute-and-a-half in cutting the Queen’s deficit to six, but it was the closest they’d come in the second quarter.  

Carleton’s Teresa Donato was the focal point of the Ravens offence in the second, scoring nine of her 15 points in the frame, including four field goals. 

The Ravens outscored the Gaels 23-12 in the second, taking a commanding 36-18 halftime lead. 

However, the Gaels, destined to avenge their losses to Carleton in last season’s Critelli Cup and National Championship, started the third on a 9-1 run as their stars finally showed up. 

Donovan kickstarted the comeback attempt, opening the quarter scoring one of her team-high three triples while Bella Gaudet contributed with five of her nine points in the frame. On the glass, Julia Chadwick was tenacious, securing six rebounds in the quarter, finishing the game with a double-double (14 points and 17 rebounds). 

Gaudet, the OUA leader in three-point percentage during the regular season at 43.1 per cent, nailed a crucial three in the final minute of the third, cutting the deficit to eight, before a late Ravens bucket restored their double-digit lead, 44-34, entering the fourth. 

In the fourth, the teams traded baskets through the opening five minutes until a 5-0 run by the Gaels cut the deficit to three – the closest the score was all game. 

But Pocrnic, the four-time all-star, quickly reimposed Carleton’s two-possession lead draining a pivotal three-pointer, erupting the Raven’s Nest. Yet, moments later, Chadwick nailed a pair of free throws to get Queen’s back within three, 56-53, before Pocrnic once again scored from beyond the arc, solidifying the victory. 

The Ravens held on to win 63-55 and claim their fourth OUA women’s basketball title in school history. 

Both the Carleton Ravens and Queen’s Gaels will head to Edmonton, A.B. to compete in the U SPORTS National Championship from March 7th to 10th. For more information on OUA women’s basketball, head to oua.ca. 

More by this author

RELATED ARTICLES

Women’s sports threatened by new research cuts  

The intersection of politics and sports took another sharp turn when the Trump administration issued a sweeping directive through Executive Order 14168, removing the terms “female,” gender,” “pregnant” and “LGBTQ+” from all federal research grants. 

By the numbers: Alex Ovechkin breaks Wayne Gretzky’s NHL goal-scoring record 

The chase is over: Alex Ovechkin has broken Wayne Gretzky’s 31-year NHL regular season goal-scoring record. 

Gala caps off Brock’s winning sports year 

The athletic term at Brock University closes with a celebration recognizing student athletes, coaches and teams who defined the 2024-25 season.  

Florida’s journey to winning NCAA championship  

With the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four concluded, the stage was set for the national championship game between the University of Florida Gators and the University of Houston Cougars. 

UConn women finish season as champions 

The University of Connecticut Huskies clinched their 12th NCAA National Championship by defeating the University of South Carolina Gamecocks, marking UConn’s first national title since 2016.  

Bayern Munich threatens legal action against Canada Soccer following Alphonso Davies’ knee injury 

German soccer club Bayern Munich have threatened to sue Canada Soccer in the aftermath of Alphonso Davies’ ACL tear, suffered during the latest international window. 

Banner SZN: Recapping U Sports winners of the 2024-25 indoor season 

Another U Sports season full of excitement, disappointment and triumph is in the books, leaving one team standing amongst each sport at the end of a grueling season. 

Ouellette, Hood named The Brock Press’ Rookies of the Year 

Rémi Ouellette (men’s track and field) and Sydney Hood (women’s hockey) have been selected as The Brock Press’ Rookies of the Year for the 2024-25 season.