After a short homestand, the York University Lions basketball teams took the trip downtown to face off against the TMU Bold on Saturday night in the first of a home-and-home. With both Bold teams holding strong records, this pair of young Lions teams to pull off an upset and, in the women's case, improve their chances of making the postseason.

Women's Game:

The Lions got off to a good start, with star Kiara Leveridge posting a double-double of 11 points and 10 boards in the first quarter alone with her work inside the paint, alongside Ella Okubasu's four points. That accounted for all York's scoring, as the Bold led 18-14 after one due in part to a pair of three pointers from Jayme Foreman.

The second began as a much tougher affair for York due to turnovers and lack of offensive production, which allowed TMU to grow their lead. However, the Lions were able to turn things around with a huge 11-2 to close the half, cutting a 28-18 deficit to 30-29 at halftime. Leveridge added nine more points in the second to finish the half with 19.

York picked up right where they left off out of the locker room, with Leveridge remaining hot and Okubasu drilling their first three-pointer of the game after they went 0-for-9 in the first half. Continuing to be much more efficient on both sides of the ball, the Lions gained their first lead of the game early in the third and led by as many as five in the quarter. The visitors took a three-point lead, 44-41, to the fourth.  

Okubasu drilled two threes to open the final frame, and Gabriella Di Pietro scored on a fast break layup, before hitting a three of her own as part of an 11-4 run to make it 55-48 Lions. Play tightened up with the minutes ticking down, but TMU got to within two off a three ball, cutting York's edge to 57-55. However, Leveridge made a layup a couple possessions later that gave York a four-point lead with under a minute left. TMU made it a 59-57 game, but the Lions were able to hold off the Bold thanks to clutch free throws from Alexis Grewal and one from Leveridge to capture a big 62-57 victory, snapping the Bold's nine-game winning streak.

The win keeps York one game up on both Nipissing and Laurentian in the chase for the final playoff spot in the OUA, with two games remaining for all three teams.

Men's Game: 

The Lions started the game with a 7-0 run, but TMU responded with an 6-0 run of their own. The Bold stalled out near the end of the quarter, allowing York to establish a lead. Nathan Carr led the team scoring with seven in the quarter, helping put the Lions up 20-10 after one.

York had a great second quarter. Offensively, Malakai Ayres-Olson and K'Shawn Latty dropped in triples. Defensively, big man Liam Rietschin had a pair of blocks on the way to tying an all time Lions single-game record with 7, while the Lions together forced eight TMU turnovers. The end result was York up 38-24 at halftime, looking to keep the momentum going in the second half.

TMU came out swinging in the third quarter, however, led by Aaron Rhooms, who exploded with four threes to break into 20 plus scoring with 13 in the quarter. The Bold's relentless offence got them back into the game, putting them to within one, down 48-47. Although Rietschin continued to be a defensive weapon, the Bold outscored the Lions 37-15 in the third, thanks to 5-of-8 shooting from downtown, as they took a 61-53 lead to the fourth.

Offensive woes continued for the Lions in the final quarter, as they struggled to finish at the rim. The Bold kept their foot on the gas, with rookie Maxime Louis-Jean tying an all time TMU record for rookie threes made in a game with five. TMU outscored York 57-27 over the final two quarters and took home an 81-65 win.

LOOKING AHEAD: 

The Lions teams will rematch the Bold, this time at Tait Mckenzie Centre, on Wednesday night. The women's game will tip off at 6:0 0pm, while the men's tilt will follow at 8:00 pm.