The York Lions women's basketball team defeated the visiting Toronto Varsity Blues 67-60 in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) East Final on Saturday night. With the victory, York, which is ranked tenth in the country, advances to the provincial final and earns a berth in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) National Championship for the first time since 1996-97.
Kim Gibbs (left) led the Lions with a game-high 21 points, four rebounds and four steals. Rookie Reanne Holden recorded 10 points and a game-high five steals on 4-of-6 shooting, while Mylaine Mageau, who was 3-of-3 from the floor and 2-of-2 from beyond the arc, added eight points.
The Lions will host the McMaster Marauders in the OUA Championship Final on Saturday, March 4 at 6pm at the Tait McKenzie Centre. Both teams have qualified for the national finals in Fredericton, March 10-12.
Ticket prices for Saturday's Championship Final are $5 for adults, $3 for all students/seniors, children 12 and under are free. To order tickets or for more information, contact Kimberly Moser, communications and promotions officer for Sport York, at kmoser@yorku.ca or ext. 55982.
Just two hours after the York women's basketball team qualified for the national final, the Lions men's basketball team defeated the fifth-ranked Ottawa Gee-Gees, 76-55, in an OUA East semifinal game to advance to the final and earn a berth in the CIS "Final 10" in Halifax, March 16-19.
Four York players scored in double-figures in Saturday's semifinal victory over the host Gee-Gees. Dan Eves, who was 7-of-11 from the floor and 4-of-7 from beyond the arc, led all scorers with 20 points, while adding nine rebounds. Tut Ruach followed with 19 points, while Rohan Steen chipped in with 18. Jordan Foebel recorded his second consecutive double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds, while adding a game-high four blocks.
For the OUA final, the Lions return to Ottawa next Saturday to face the Carleton Ravens, the number-two ranked team in the country and three-time defending national champion.
The Lions track and field teams competed at the OUA Championships this weekend in Windsor. Both the men's and women's squads finished sixth in the team standings.
Sprinter Anthony Garber picked up a pair of medals. Garber captured gold in the 60 metre dash with a time of 6.83 and also added silver as a member of the York men's 4x200 metre relay team. Ben Krul won silver in the pentathlon with 3,456 points, while Paul Kosmas earned silver in the pole vault with a personal best effort of 4.56 metres.
Marlon Nangle entered the championship ranked number one in both the OUA and the CIS in the triple jump but had to settle for bronze after being hampered by an achilles injury.
On the women's side, Kaitlin Coopman won silver in the 600 metre run with a time of 1:33.89.
The Lions recorded six personal best and two CIS qualifying performances. York now prepares for the CIS National Championships in Saskatoon, March 10-12.