WEEKEND RECAP: #6 Gee-Gees finish first semester undefeated with wins over Algoma, Brock

The Gee-Gees women's basketball team closed the first half of their season with a perfect 9-0 record following wins against Algoma and Brock.

On Friday at Montpetit Hall, Ottawa won a lopsided contest against the winless Algoma Thunderbirds by a 82-24 final tally.

Defensively, the Gee-Gees held Algoma to just two points in both the first and fourth quarter. The third quarter was far more competitive as Ottawa only outscored the Thunderbirds 15-13 in the frame. The Gee-Gees finished the night with 60 rebounds and shot 40.8 per cent from the field as a team in the win. 

Savannah Provo led the way for Ottawa with 17 points to go along with two rebounds and two steals. Brigitte Lefebvre-Okankwu had 14 points, nine rebounds, and four steals, while Emily Payne rounded out players in double-figures with 13 points and eight rebounds.

With a travel day on Saturday, the Gee-Gees took to the road for a Sunday afternoon matinee matchup with the Brock Badgers. Fresh from defeating the ranked Carleton Ravens on Friday, Ottawa found a good challenge in the Badgers.

The Gee-Gees closed out the first semester with an 11-point 60-49 win in St. Catharines. Building their lead as high as 20 points, Ottawa's effort in the first three frames paid off when Brock staged a comeback in the fourth.

Building a 12-point lead at half, it was a tale of two quarters in the second half for the Gee-Gees. In the third quarter, Ottawa outscored Brock 17-8 to take a 20-point lead into the final frame. In the fourth, the Badgers' offence came alive to outscore Ottawa 21-11.

Though it was not a strong shooting afternoon for the Gee-Gees, they held Brock to a paltry 24.7 per cent shooting. Despite turning the ball over one more time than their hosts, Ottawa took better advantage of Brock's miscues, scoring 17 points off 17 Badger turnovers.

Lefebvre-Okankwu led the way again with 18 points, three assists, and three steals. Oksana Gouchie-Provencher logged an impressive defensive display in the win, finishing with 10 points, eight blocks, and seven rebounds. Natsuki Szczokin finished the win with eight points, 12 rebounds, three assists, and two steals.

Improving to 9-0, Ottawa remains one of four undefeated teams in the nation, with Queen's, Guelph, and Bishop's also holding spotless records. 

Up next, the Gee-Gees will have a lengthy break for exams and the holidays. They will return in the New Year with a road trip to Waterloo for matchups with Laurier and Waterloo. Ottawa will be back at Montpetit Hall on Jan. 14 to take on Ontario Tech.