Guelph, Ont. - A 34-point first quarter was the spring board the Carleton Ravens women's basketball team needed as they opened the 2023-24 season with an 83-66 win on Saturday night.
Playing only once on their opening weekend the Ravens came firing out the gate in the first quarter as Kali Pocrnic (Oakville, Ont.) had 14 points while reigning U SPORTS Rookie of the Year Jacqueline Urban had 7 to put the Ravens ahead 34-16 after ten minutes.
The Gryphons battled back in the second, outscoring the Ravens 19-11 while Carleton went cold from the field. Shooting only 5 for 20 in the second quarter, Carleton lost the battle on the glass to the Gryphons who outrebounded Carleton 12-8 while getting hot from three to cut into the visitor's lead.
Carleton rebounded in the second half, finding some consistency in their play while generating 4 steals, 2 by Teresa Donato (Ottawa, Ont.) as the Ravens pressed hard on defence. As the Ravens turned up their pressure, Guelph came back down shooting just 6 for 16 in the quarter.
Kyana-Jade Poulin heated up in the fourth for Carleton, going 3-4 from the field the second-year put in a team-high seven points in the final ten minutes. The Ravens dominated the boards in the final ten minutes coming down with 14 of the last 17 rebounds in the game.
With the win, the Ravens begin their pursuit of a second-consecutive national championship ahead of two more games on the road this weekend at Western and Windsor.
The Ravens open the home half of their 2023-24 season when they host Brock and Lakehead on November 17 and 18 in the Home Opener Weekend presented by McKeen Metro Glebe.