Box Score
For 35 minutes, the Gryphons women's basketball team gave the No. 4 Ravens everything they had, playing tight defence and matching them every step of the way. Then the Ravens tightened up their defence, and the Gryphon's just couldn't keep up, falling 81-71.
 
The Gryphons drop to 2-3 while the Ravens advance to 3-2.
 
Jessica Resch (Ottawa, ON) led the Ravens, scoring 24 points, with 10 in the third quarter alone. Resch shot 4-11 from three-point range, knocking down numerous shots to keep Carleton out in front during a Gryphon run. Alyson Bush (Ottawa, ON) added 17 points and seven rebounds, and Kendal Macleod (Brockville, ON) chipped in 12, going 5-6 from the free-throw line. Five Raven players scored in double figures on the night.
 
Leading the Gryphon's was Ali Dzikowski (Brantford, ON), who scored 17 points to go along with her game high eight rebounds. Samantha Russell (Paradies Valley, AZ) and rookies Kate MacTavish (Waterloo, ON), Alyssa Shortt (Waterloo, ON), and Dana Van Balkom (Hamilton, ON) all scored nine points for the balanced Gryphon offence.
 
Both teams came ready to play in this one, and the defensive intensity was on full display. Neither team was able to take more than a three point lead in the first quarter, and turnovers were at a premium early on. After the first quarter, the Gryphons took a slight 15-14 lead behind six points from Russell.
 
Carleton opened up the quarter with an early 9-0 run led by Resch and Ashleigh Cleary (Kemptville, ON), taking a 23-17 lead just four minutes into the second quarter. The ravens extended their lead to double digits before a Van Balkom three cut the deficit to 31-24. Van Balkom scored seven points by halftime, helping cut the Ravens lead to just 34-28 at the half.
 
Guelph opened the second half with back-to-back threes, and after a Dzikowski three, the Gryphon's retook the lead at 41-40 halfway through the quarter. MacTavish played big off the bench in the third to keep the Gryphon's close, but the Raven's kept hitting threes, taking a 58-55 lead into the final quarter.
 
Dzikowski again opened the quarter with a three to tie the game at 58-58, and after another three the Gryphon's held a 62-60 lead early in the fourth. At the halfway point, the teams were tied at 65-65 before the Raven's D stepped up and forced the Gryphon's into some costly turnovers. Carleton went on a 10-0 run shortly after, leaving the Gryphon's with a disappointing finish.
 
The Gryphon's will try and bounce back when they take on the visiting Ottawa GeeGees tomorrow night at the W.F. Mitchell Centre. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.