Ryerson’s women’s basketball team will look to continue its historic season this weekend in Windsor to compete in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Final Four.
It is the first time the team has reached this stage in the season , when the Rams face the Queen’s Gaels on Friday night.
Ryerson comes into the game riding an 11-game winning streak. The Rams beat the Gaels twice this season, but both contests were decided by 10 points or less.
Rams head coach Carly Clarke says the game will be difficult regardless of the team’s previous success versus Queen’s.
“They’ll be tough. It’s always tough to beat any team three times in a season,” she said.
Ryerson’s leading scorer, Keneca Pingue-Giles, says this season has been great but there is more to do.
“This whole year has been a historic in a sense — nationally ranked, best record, first time getting into the OUA Final Four — so we just want to keep pushing.”
Pingue-Giles says the key to success versus the Gaels will be defence.
“We have to have a lot of great post play. They shoot a lot of threes as well so we have to contain their guards.”
The OUA first-team all-star scored a team-high 18 points when the two teams met two weeks ago.
Fourth-year guard Mariah Nunes thinks the familiarity between the two teams bodes well for the Rams.
“We know their playing style and their defence. We can anticipate what they’re going to do next and cut them off,” Nunes said.
Ryerson advanced to the final four by knocking off the Ottawa Gee-Gees, 73-47, in quarter-final action last Saturday.
The Rams were led by Pingue-Giles who poured in 20 points to go along with 11 rebounds for the double-double.
If the Rams defeat the Gaels they will play the winner of the semifinal between tournament host Windsor and Lakehead, in Saturday’s championship game.
Pierce graduated from the Ryerson School of Journalism in 2015. @PierceOLeary