The Varsity Blues women’s basketball team fell short against the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees on November 29 at the Goldring Centre. 

The loss puts the Blues record now at 1–10 and the Gee-Gees at 9–1. The Blues tried to break a tough seven-game losing streak in their Ontario University Athletics season. Although the Blues could not achieve their win, they put up a valiant effort.

What happened?

The first quarter started off strong for the Blues. They played with a hectic defense and made timely shots, giving themselves a two-point lead at the end of the quarter. A notable player was rookie guard Lia Barbieri, who ended the quarter with seven points. Barbieri would end the game with 13 points, tying a season and career-high. Other standouts include forward Jade Diwandja Djemba who was active on defense and got three blocks on the night, while guard Kaylee Williams contributed with clutch steals in the Blues’ half.

As the game continued, momentum shifted to the Gee-Gees as they tightened their defense and began to make shots that weren’t successful in the first quarter. The Blues would ultimately lose their lead by the seven-minute mark of the second quarter and were unable to recover from it. 

Through hustle and effort from fifth-year forward Thuraya Abdul Hamid, the Blues kept the score close. At halftime, the Blues were at 24–28. Hamid ended with a game-high 10 rebounds and added six points to the scoreboard. Hamid’s particularly flashy move was when she sealed her defender in the post and spun off her for an offhand hook shot. 

It was the second half, which was the beginning of the end for the Blues. The Gee-Gees’ strategic shift by starting in the third quarter had the team play a press against the Blues. The Blues’ coaching and players’ inability to react to this new defensive pressure resulted in starting guards Barbieri and Raya Hafez dribbling into traps, stalling the Blues’ offense and mounting their number of turnovers. Strong play by Barbieri — most notably on the break — would keep the score respectable, as the Blues ended the third quarter at 37–45.

The Blues, likely affected by fatigue and greater pressure from the Gee-Gees trap defense, eventually suffered a blowout in the fourth quarter, losing the game 39–67.

What’s next?

The Blues will regroup as they prepare for 2025, in which they will open the new year against the Carleton Ravens. Going forward, the Blues can better support their guards in better navigating the defensive traps seen in this game. The next matchup is set for January 10 at the Goldring Centre, with tip-off scheduled for 6:00 pm.