The York University Lions men's and women's basketball teams faced the Guelph Gryphons in their final games of 2024 on Saturday night in the Royal City. The women were seeking their fourth win and the men aiming for their second. Both teams entered the Gryphons' Den with determination to close the year on a high note.

Women's Game:

The Lions struggled to find their rhythm in the first quarter, with the Gryphons jumping out to a 32-16 lead after one. Guelph's shot 54.5% from beyond the arc in the opening quarter, while York worked to keep pace, led by Kiara Leveridge's contributions inside with six points to lead the team in the opening frame.

In the second, York showed fight, highlighted by Leveridge's aggression in the paint. She got to the free-throw line four times, making them all. There were also some contributions from the bench, including three made free throws Ruqaya Green. The Lions got to the foul line 23 times in the opening half, hitting 17 However, Guelph's reamined consistent offensively throughout the first half, and held a 54-36 halftime lead.

The Gryphons' put the game out of reach in the third, outscoring the Lions 21-13. While the Lions showed flashes defensively in this one, forcing 17 Gryphon turnovers, they allowed Guelph to make 14 threes en route to the victory.

Leveridge once again led the Lions with 23 points, going 6-of-18 from the field and 9-of-13 from the line. Ella Okubasu added eight points and seven rebounds, showing her strength in the paint. Despite strong individual efforts, York's offensive inconsistency struggles proved to be too much to overcome as the Gryphons earned a 91-59 victory. With the loss, York ends the first half 3-7 and on the outside looking into the OUA playoff picture with 10 games remaining.

Men's Game:

York entered the final frame trailing 65-60 after a tightly contested first three quarters. However, the Lions unleashed a dominant 30-point fourth quarter, outscoring the Gryphons by 11 to flip the game in their favour. Key contributions from the Lions' bench and clutch free throws sealed the comeback victory.

The game began with both teams struggling to find their offensive rhythm, resulting in a low-scoring quarter. Guelph held a 16-13 edge through one, despite solid defensive efforts by the Lions. It was a balanced offensive attack in the opening frame for York, with six different players finding the scoresheet. The Lions lone three of the first quarter came courtesy of K'Shawn Latty for his only points of the frame.

The pace picked up in the second quarter as, despite being outscored 25-24 in the quarter, York found its groove offensively. Jackson Mackinnon-Metcalf led the charge going an efficient 4-for-5 from the field, scoring eight of his 13 points on the night in the second. Meanwhile, Elias Panagiotopoulos also drained two triples, for six of his 17 in the game, as Guelph took a 41-37 lead into the locker room.

The Gryphons maintained their lead in a closely contested third quarter, narrowly outscoring York 24-23. Liam Rietschin was a key factor for York off the bench with 10 in the quarter as he continued his solid season with 17 on the night. Travon Hamilton added six points of his own, including a three-pointer, as the Lions remained down two possessions, 65-60, after three.

Then came that 30-point fourth quarter from York to complete the comeback on the road. Panagiotopoulos led the charge with eight points, including another three-pointer, while Latty added 11 points in the quarter. The Lions' defense tightened, holding the Gryphons to just 19 points and limiting their second-chance opportunities with seven rebounds from Rietschin in the frame. York's offence was outstanding, as the 30 points indicate. They shot 67% from the field in the final frame (10-of-15) while also making eight of their nine free throws, and, as a result, head into the holiday break winners of two of their last three games.

LOOKING AHEAD:
The Lions will open the 2025 portion of their schedule in St. Catharine's against the Brock Badgers as they continue what will be a five-game road swing stratling the December break. Tip-off for the women's game at 6:00 pm, followed by the men's game at 8:00 pm.