After outlasting their crosstown rivals, the Toronto Varsity Blues, just 24 hours earlier, the York University Lions women's basketball team stayed within city limits for another crucial matchup; this time stepping onto the home court of the undefeated TMU Bold. Looking to carry their rising momentum into one of their toughest tests of the season, the Lions entered the matchup seeking to stretch their win streak to five against the current OUA Central leaders on what turned out to be a history-making night at Mattamy Athletic Centre.
York opened the night with efficient shooting, shooting nearly 39% from the field and settling into their offensive structure early. Katie Leudy led the way with six points, all from the free throw line, as the Lions went 8-for-9 from the stripe. Despite going just 2-for-16 from the field, The Lions' final push, led by two Alexis Grewal free throws, helped York finish the quarter down just two,13-11.
York continued to generate balanced scoring, putting up 12 in the frame. With 4:30 to go, Kiara Leveridge drove to the bucket for a hoop and harm, and with it, scored her 1,449th and 1,450th career points, passing Laura (MacCallum) Lennon for top spot on the York all-time points list, doing so in just her 88th game. After leading by two after one, the Lions trailed by a pair at the half.
Coming out of halftime, York responded well despite TMU's increased pressure. Leveridge continued her dominant night, with another five points in the frame. Off the bench, Emmanuelle Felix provided a crucial spark, adding key buckets late in the quarter along with strong defensive minutes. However, TMU outscored York 19-11 in the quarter, and took a double-digit lead to the fourth.
The Lions kept pushing, matching the Bold's physicality and refusing to let the game slip away. Leveridge delivered some of York's most important late-game contributions, putting up 11 of her 23 on the night in the final frame. However, those 23 record-setting points –putting Leveridge at 1,467 for her career – to go along with her 15 rebounds, weren't enough as the Lions fell 62-53.
LOOKING AHEAD:
The Lions see their win streak end at four, and will look to bounce back up north next weekend against the Nipissing Lakers and Laurentian Voyageurs beginning Friday in North Bay. Tip-off is set for 6:00 pm.
