Weekend Recap: #4 Gee-Gees cruise to road wins, establish lead atop OUA

The U SPORTS fourth-ranked Gee-Gees women's basketball team (9-1) were able to extend their winning streak to nine games as they beat the Guelph Gryphons (4-6) and the Algoma Thunderbirds (2-8) this weekend, in their last regular season games of the calendar year.

The Gee-Gees kicked off the doubleheader by taking down the Guelph Gryphons 86-69 on Friday night in Guelph, behind a dominant 29 points from fifth-year guard Sarah Besselink.

Although the Gee-Gees got off to a slow start they were able to keep pace with the Gryphons in the first half, thanks to 11 first half points from Besselink and six from first year guard Alana Renon who provided some much needed energy off of the bench.

In the second half, the Gee-Gees displayed why they have been one of the most dominant defensive teams in the country as they put the clamps on the Gryphons, holding them to just nine points in the third quarter. For the game, the Gee-Gees were able to hold Gryphons to just 35.7 per cent shooting from the field and forced them into 20 turnovers.

While Besselink led the way on the offensive end of the floor all game long, the Gee-Gees overall depth was on full display as all five of the starters finished the game in double digits for scoring.

After a day off, the Gee-Gees were back at it on Sunday afternoon and were able to overcome another slow start to beat the Algoma Thunderbirds 91-55.

Despite having just two wins on the season and never having beaten the Gee-Gees since their inception in 2014, the Thunderbirds came out strong and held an eight-point lead early in the second quarter.

Over the final three quarters however, the Gee-Gees flexed their offensive muscles outscoring the Thunderbirds 78-36. Once again the Gee-Gees used their trademark smothering defence and balanced scoring attack to fight back and ultimately pull away.

In the second half, the Gee-Gees held the Thunderbirds to just 26.7 per cent shooting, while four players finished the game with 13 or more points for the Gee-Gees.

Notable performances included Brooklynn McAlear-Fanus with 20 points and five assists, Amélie Hachey with 15 points, seven rebounds, and four steals, while Anne Carr was extremely productive in her role off the bench finishing with 13 points and 3 rebounds in just 12 minutes.

The Gee-Gees are now off for the exam break but will be back in action on Jan. 5 and 6 as they travel to Toronto to take on the Toronto Varsity Blues and the Ryerson Rams.