Despite wearing the number 21 on her back, Julia Chadwick, MIR ’24, was the number one Queen’s Women’s Basketball player last weekend.
Chadwick made history as she smashed her own record when the Gaels tipped off against the York Lions. In the 95-53 game, Chadwick scored 43 of 95 points for the Gaels, breaking the Queen’s single-game points record, which was previously held by Brittany Moore, who celebrated a 40-point game in 2009.
“It was definitely exciting. In the game, I wasn’t really thinking too much about it,” Chadwick said in an interview with The Journal. “It was a fun game.”
Now in her fifth year on the Queen’s Women’s Basketball team, Chadwick is no stranger to success on the court. As the top scorer for the Gaels, Chadwick celebrated her 1,000th OUA point last weekend. Last season, she put up 361 points in just 22 games and lead the OUA in total rebounds with 264.
The single-game point record isn’t the only record Chadwick has broken in her time as a Gael. The previous single-game rebound record—set by Chadwick last season—was broken last weekend, with 27 rebounds. Chadwick now occupies the top three spots for single-game rebounds across all Gaels teams, tying with Women’s Rugby all-star Sophie deGoede for third place with 21 rebounds.
“I didn’t realize I was breaking my own record, especially in the game. I had no idea I was rebounding like that,” Chadwick said. “I don’t even know if I realized that I had set that record before, so I was a little surprised to see that.”
Chadwick is currently 10th in Canada for points, eighth for total rebounds, fourth for field goals, and fourth for blocks. Chadwick is ranked second for points per 40 minutes with 30.2. She’s less than two points behind OUA leader Dalyssa Fleurgin from Concordia University.
“It’s crazy to have that happen this weekend,” she said. “I’m looking forward to having other players on the team also do it because, yeah, it’s exciting.”
Following the Jan. 13 game, Chadwick was celebrated on social media by multiple sports media outlets, named OUA Player of the Week and U SPORTS Player of the Week. Though she appreciates the praise, Chadwick mentioned this doesn’t compare to the she’s received from her teammates.
“I think it was so special because it was with this team and group of players and coaching staff. It was a really fun moment, and it was becaus everyone was so ive and involved and encouraging throughout the game and after the game,” she said.
Chadwick said it was because of her teammates and the coaching staff that she was able to succeed in the way she did. When she got close to breaking the record, her coaching staff emphasized getting the ball into Chadwick’s possession.
“And then, just my teammates’ abilities to find me on the court, find me in spots like that, [that’s how] I was able to succeed,” Chadwick said. “A lot went into it.”
Throughout her interview, Chadwick expressed her love for her team, and how the reciprocated feelings from her teammates and coaching staff have contributed to the team’s triumphs.
“We have really good team culture and really good team chemistry. We’re able to find a really good balance of having fun and being competitive. It’s always the best part of my days to go to practice and be with the team,” she said. “That really reflects on court and in our performance.”
Moving forward, Chadwick expressed two more goals for the season: winning OUA and U SPORTS gold.
“It takes a bunch of small things, but if we continue to grow and continue to find our identity as a team, hopefully that’ll put us in a good position to do that,” she said.
Ranked fourth in Canada, the Gaels face off against the Laurier Golden Hawks at home on Feb. 2 as they play for gold.
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