The York University Lions basketball teams took to the Tait McKenzie Centre hardwood on Friday night to face the Laurentian Voyageurs. Both Lions squads sought to rebound from a losing weekend in the nation's capital last week, with the men seeking their first victory of the season and the women looking to improve to 3-2.
Women's Game:
The Lions jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first quarter, a scoring stretch that included an open three-point shot from Alexis Grewal. The Lions also showed their defensive prowess early, as Grewal and Kiara Leveridge recorded steals, with Leveridge's leading to a layup that made the score 15-5 in favor of the Lions. The Voyageurs closed the quarter with a 7-0 run of their own to cut the lead to 15-12 after one.
In a back-and-forth second quarter, York's efforts were again led by Leveridge, who recorded six points, and three rebounds. York led 20-12 early in the quarter, but the Voyageurs would take command from there, as with the score tied 28-28, Laurentian would go on a 6-0 run to take a 34-28 lead heading into halftime, finishing the half on a 22-8 run.
The Voyageurs continued to pour it on in the third, outscoting the Lions 19-7 in the quarter, with nine of their points coming from behind the arc. Laurentian took a 53-35 lead heading into the fourth.
York entered the fourth quarter needing a spark. It was provided by Leveridge, who recorded thirteen of the Lions twenty-four points on the quarter, giving her a game-high twenty-six points. York got as close to five points following a Bilan Khadar three-pointer that made the score 60-55 in favor of Laurentian with 1:50 left. However, the Voyageurs would close out, winning the game 68-59.
Men's Game:
The Lions got off to a solid start to begin the game, as a Travon Hamilton layup and a Nathan Carr three-pointer gave the Lions an early 5-4 lead. Laurentian turned it on from there, outscoring the Lions 31-11 the rest of the way to go into the second quarter with a 35-16 lead.
Malakai Ayres-Olson scored seven points for York in the second, which included two three-pointers. Liam Rietschin supplemented that, by recording five points, but Laurentian would outpace York's output 19-17 in the quarter as they took their 53-34 lead to halftime.
Laurentian continued to pull away from York in the third quarter. However, Hamilton and Elias Panagiotopoulos made an impact, each amassing two steals, while Nickele Harris notched four points and a block. Despite those flashes from the home side, the vistiors held a 74-48 lead through three.
In the fourth quarter, Hamilton scored four points and Nate Makolo scored six points and snagged a steal in what finished an 88-60 victory.
LOOKING AHEAD:
The Lions will host the Nipissing Lakers on Saturday night in the second half of the back-to-back. The women's game tips- off is 6:00 pm, while the men's game starts at 8:00 pm.
