Queen’s Women’s Basketball defeated the visiting Ontario Tech Ridgebacks 99-69 on Friday night at the ARC.
Almost immediately after the first whistle blew, Julia Chadwick made an impressive layup that set a fast pace for the game. Queen’s ran with it, using strategic offensive plays to finish the first quarter with a 24-point lead, up 36-12.
Queen’s relied on points in the paint to finish the first half up 55-24. The Gaels continued to play at lightning speed in the second half, scoring over 30 points in both the third and fourth quarters. As the final buzzer sounded, the Gaels celebrated their highest-scoring game of the season, inching closer to an undefeated season.
Head Coach Claire Meadows said keeping a fast pace has been a struggle for the Women’s Basketball team, but it was one of their strengths on Friday night. While the team’s progress and potent offense against the Ridgebacks impressed Meadows, she still believes there are aspects of their game the team must continue to improve.
“There were moments where we were fully engaged and playing how we wanted to play. But I thought, kind of looking at the game as a whole, that we needed to be better on the defensive end,” Meadows said in a post-game interview with The Journal.
Julia Chadwick had her highest-scoring game of the season with 26 points. Chadwick is a fifth-year forward who has been a critical player for the Gaels this year.
Laura Donovan wasn’t far behind her, scoring 19 points and going four for five on her three-pointers. Chadwick and Donovan are the team’s veterans and leading scorers.
Another stand-out player was Bridget Mullholland, who is currently playing in her seventh season at Queen’s. Her past years on the team had various highs and lows, including two full seasons spent on the bench due to injury. This year, Mullholland is on an upward climb toward success and is already averaging career highs in points, rebounds, assists, and minutes played.
“It’s been a long seven years,” Mulholland said in a recent press release. “I don’t take the moments in the program, in the OUA and U SPORTS for granted. Recently, just been trying to soak in every moment.”
Mullholland was initially a shooting guard who has since shifted to small forward. This year, she’s playing the power forward role and believes her experience in different positions on the court has helped her become a better player.
“In of what I’m doing now… I’m a better forward now because I was a guard in the past and because of the experiences I have had,” she said.
After defeating the Ridgebacks on Friday, the players walked to the locker room with smiles on their faces, exhausted but satisfied.
It’s clear to anyone watching the Gaels how much their players enjoy each other’s presence on and off the court. Mullholland credited this positive team environment to the coaching staff and how they’ve helped the team balance fun and competition.
“I think that’s really special…to hold both of those things: competing but people wanting to come to practice. People having fun at practice and the smiles and laughter on people’s faces.”
The Gaels had their first away game against the McMaster Marauders on Sunday and returned home victorious after winning 79-76. Queen’s Women’s Basketball is back at the ARC on Friday, Nov. 18, where they will host the Carleton Ravens.
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