GUELPH, Ont. – Two of the top teams in OUA women's basketball squared off in Guelph on Friday night (Feb. 3), as the Gryphons played host to the No. 4-nationally ranked Queen's Gaels at the Guelph Gryphons Athletics Centre. The visitors from Kingston, who earlier in the season climbed all the way to the top of the national rankings, built up a 65-49 lead after three quarters of play. But the Gryphons would not go away, outscoring the Gaels 19-11 in the final quarter, with Renee Armstrong's lay-in with :48 seconds remaining in regulation making it just a 5-point game (with the Queen's lead trimmed to 73-68). But it would prove to be as close as the Gryphons would get, as their comeback attempt would ultimately fall short, as the Gaels were able to hit their free throws down the stretch and escape Guelph with a 76-68 win.  
 
With the victory, the No. 4-ranked Gaels continue their impressive 2022-23 campaign, improving to 16-1 on the season (with their lone loss coming at Carleton on January 27). The Gryphons, meanwhile, drop to 12-5 on the season, with Friday night's loss marking just the second time all season the Gryphons have been defeated on their home court. Despite the loss, the Gryphons (12-5) remain in 2nd-place in the OUA West Division standings, while Queen's (16-1) remain atop the OUA East.
 
Leading the way for the Gryphons on Friday night were a pair of familiar faces in standout guards, MacKeely Shantz and Renee Armstrong. Shantz finished the night with a game-high 29 points on 12-of-22 shooting, to go along with 8 assists and 7 rebounds. It marked a new season-high in points for Shantz, surpassing her previous high of 27 points, which she recorded versus York back in November. Shantz, an OUA Second Team All-Star a season ago, currently ranks 5th in the conference in scoring with 17.4 points per game for the season. Renee Armstrong, who was instrumental in spearheading the Gryphons late comeback attempt, finished the night with 15 points. In the end, it was not enough for the Gryphons, who were unable to overcome a strong and balanced Gaels team, with Queen's registering four different players in double figures in scoring on Friday night.
 
The Gryphons are right back in action once again on Saturday night (Feb. 4) when they will travel to St. Catharines to face the Brock Badgers (9-7). Saturday night's game will mark the first, and only, head-to-head matchup between the Gryphons and Badgers in 2022-23, with Brock currently tied for top spot in the OUA's Central Division alongside TMU. The Gryphons have five games remaining in their 2022-23 regular season schedule, with three of their final four regular season games coming on home court at the Guelph Gryphons Athletics Centre. Saturday night's matchup with Brock is set to tip at 6pm in St. Catharines and can be seen live online at oua.tv.