Waterloo, Ont. - The Carleton Ravens started 2023 with an 80-71 win over the Waterloo Warriors.
The Warriors were poised to defend the PAC on the opening game of 2023 and shot an impressive 36% from beyond the arc as they pushed the Ravens deep into the fourth quarter.
The Ravens started slowly, trailing by as many as eight before leading by one after ten minutes. In the first half, the Ravens were 5-for-11 from the charity stripe leaving themselves in a dangerous close game. While the Ravens free throw shooting went cold, the Warriors heated up shooting 80% from beyond the arc in the second quarter to go into the half up two.
True to form, the Ravens bounced back after trailing at the half scoring 26 points in the third on 64.7% shooting. Grant Shephard led all players in the Ravens charge, scoring 25 points while adding 7 rebounds.
Though Shephard was consistent throughout the matchup, it was the play of Aidan Warnholtz that energized the Ravens. The Kanata, Ontario, guard came alive in the second half scoring 12 points as the Ravens slowly extended their lead on the Warriors.
With the win the Ravens improve to 8-2 and will face the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks on Saturday evening.
