The York University Lions basketball teams played the back half of a weekend doubleheader against the Lakehead Thunderwolves on Saturday night at Tait McKenzie Centre.

The women's team was looking to salvage a split after dropping Friday night's contest on the final shot. Meanwhile, the men's team was looking to play spoiler against a Thunderwolves squad still vying for the OUA's No. 1 seed and home-court advantage throughout the postseason.

Women's Game:

The Lions got off to a slow start, trailing 7-4 early. However, they then found their rhythm, tying it courtesy of a three from Gabby Di Pietro three, and closed the quarter on a 14-5 run. Di Pietro paced the team in the opening quarter with six points, two boards and a pair of steals, helping her side to an 18-12 lead after one.

The home side continued to build on their lead in the second. Lakehead began the quarter on a 9-3 run to tie it at 21-21, but it was all Lions from there. They outscored the Thunderwolves 17-6 over the final 6:02 of the first half, led by eight points and three boards from Leveridge – picking up right where she left off a night ago – as York enjoyed an 11-point lead, 38-27, at recess.

The third quarter was more of the same from a Lions team that came out much sharper in this one following Friday's heartbreaking loss. They remained efficient offensively in the third, outscoring the visitors 17-12 on 5-of-10 shooting and 6-of-7 from the charity stripe. The offence was spearheaded by Ella Okubasu, making her return to the lineup, as she had five points nine on the night. The Lions took a comfortable 55-39 lead to the fourth. 

York kept the proverbial foot on the gas in the fourth quarter, building the lead up to 20 at 60-40 early in the final frame. The Thunderwolves responded with a mini 12-6 run to cut it to 14, but the Lions finished the game on a 7-2 run to win it 73-54.

Leveridge posted her second double-double in as many games and fourth of the year, putting up 21 points and 10 rebounds after 21 and 15 24 hours prior. Alexis Grewal had 11 points and five rebounds, while Ruqaya Green put up 10 points off the bench.

Men's Game:

After a competitive battle on Friday night for a young Lions team against one of the conference's top dogs, they were looking to take that next step in this one and pull off the upset.

York gave up seven of the first eight points, but battled back with an 8-4 run to cut the lead to two at 11-9. However, the Thunderwolves mounted a response of their own, and closed the quarter on a 19-4 run and led 30-13 after one. Veteran Travon Hamilton led the Lions with five first-quarter points.

The Thunderwolves continued firing on all cylinders offensively in the second, putting up 27 points on 9-of-15 from the field including 3-of-6 from downtown. York also found some mojo on the offensive side of the ball, paced by another veteran in Elias Panagiotopoulos, who scored seven, while K'Shawn Latty, Reilly Klutchert and Nate Mokolo contributing off the bench. Lakehead led 57-36 at the half.

The visitors increased the lead to 76-42 with 4:55 to play in the third. However, the Lions wouldn't go away. They concluded the quarter on a 21-8 run and cut the lead to 84-63 through three.

They were able to trim the lead to 15, 88-73, after a Liam Rietschin bucket with 6:19 to go. They eventually trimmed the deficit to 99-89, but a valiant comeback effort from the hosts fell short, as Lakehead took it by a score of 104-89.

LOOKING AHEAD:

The Lions head to McMaster to meet the Marauders next Friday night, before hosting the Toronto Varsity Blues in the annual Black History Month Games next Saturday. The women's games begin at 6:00 pm, with the men's tilts tipping off just after 8:00 pm.