PLAYOFF PREVIEW: Women’s basketball heads to Waterloo for OUA Quarterfinal

Just like last season, the Gee-Gees women's basketball team is on the road to take on the Waterloo Warriors in the OUA Quarterfinal. The Saturday night matchup tips off at 6p.m., and the Gee-Gees will look to take down their OUA West foes to advance in the Critelli Cup playoffs.

In the 2022-23 season, the OUA Quarterfinal marked the end of the road for the Gee-Gees when they fell 66-56 to the Warriors.

The teams met once during the 2023-24 regular season with Waterloo emerging victorious after holding Ottawa to only four points in the fourth quarter. Dropping the road game 60-52, the Gee-Gees are on the hunt for revenge. 

Ottawa head coach, Rose-Anne Joly, plans to have the team more prepared this time around.

"This time it's going to be different," Joly said. "We're going to be prepared and we're going to get a different result." 

In the regular season meeting with the Warriors, Ariane Saumure and Allie McCarthy each scored 12 points in the effort. Point guard Natsuki Szczokin followed with 11 points and seven steals.

Saumure had a big shooting night for the Gee-Gees in round one of playoffs on Wednesday night, going 4-6 from three and tying the game high of 14 points with teammate, Melina De lulio.

The reigning Defensive Player of the Year was not with the Gee-Gees for last year's quarterfinal loss to the Warriors but is still motivated by the scenario.

"I am happy to be a part of the rivalry now, it makes me want to play harder for the girls who were here last year and for the coaches," Saumure said. "I want to go all the way this year, I want to go to nationals and if we have to beat Waterloo first then I want to do that so badly." 

Ottawa and Waterloo battle it out on Feb. 23 with tip-off scheduled for 6p.m.