Gryphon hoops women topped by national champ Carleton
GUELPH – The Guelph Gryphons hung with the reigning national champion Carleton Ravens early in the first quarter before Carleton pulled away for an 83-66 victory in their OUA women’s basketball season opener Saturday night at the Guelph Gryphons Athletics Centre.
The Gryphs, who opened their season Friday with a win at home over the Ottawa Gee-Gees, led 15-10 with 4:18 gone in the game, but were held to a single point the remainder of the opening quarter. That gave Carleton a 34-16 lead at the end of the quarter before Guelph cut the gap to 10 points (45-35) by halftime. The Ravens added a little to their lead in the third quarter as they took a 62-49 advantage into the final quarter.
Julia Colavecchia had 22 points for the Gryphs while Renee Armstrong added 15 and Alexis Wright netted 10. Lucy Tesseyman grabbed six rebounds while Colavecchia hauled down five. Armstrong had three blocks and Wright had two steals.
Carleton had four players hit double digits in scoring as Kali Pocrnic had 22 points, Jacqueline Urban had 15, Kyana-Jade Poulin had 13 and Zerina Duvnjak had 11. Duvnjak had nine rebounds and Urban and Tatyanna Burke had eight apiece. Teresa Donato and Pocrnic each had four assists while Burke had a block and Donato also had four steals.
The Gryphs shot 40 percent on field goals, 37 percent on three-pointers and 75 percent on free throws. They also pulled down 29 rebounds, had 10 assists, five blocks, seven steals and 22 turnovers. The Gryphs scored 26 points in the paint, 13 off turnovers, eight on second chances and seven from their bench.
Carleton shot 39 percent on field goals, 46 percent on three-pointers and 79 percent on free throws. They took 17 more shots than the Gryphs and six more free throws. The Ravens grabbed 42 rebounds and had 14 assists, one block, 15 steals and 18 turnovers and scored 38 points in the paint, 21 off turnovers, 19 on second chances and 22 from their bench.
The Gryphs are to play the Waterloo Warriors (1-0) twice this week. They’re to play at the GGAC Wednesday at 6 p.m. and on Waterloo’s Carl Totzke Court Saturday at 2 p.m.
- Guelph Sports Journal