Basketball teams return home for two-team weekend matchup

Lakehead’s basketball squads return home this weekend to face Queen’s and York on Friday and Saturday night at the Thunderdome. The home teams are returning from a weekend in Ottawa that saw them go a combined 1-3, but with the one win coming in the women’s matchup with the then-nationally fourth ranked Carleton Ravens.

“We have two very tough teams visiting the Thunderdome this weekend in Queens & York,” Thunderwolves head coach Jon Kreiner says. The Queen’s women’s team enters the weekend at 6-1, and York comes in at 5-2. Both teams are on multi-game win streaks.

“Queen’s is basically a top-ten team (currently just outside the top 10) with a lot of experience and a recent trip to the nationals,” Kreiner says. “They are a huge team up front and boast one of the top perimeter players in the country.” Fifth-year Queen’s guard Marianne Alarie is currently averaging 22.7 points on 41.8% shooting.

“York,” Kreiner says, “has beaten a top-10 team already and is playing at a very high level. They are big, physical, and are shooting the three very well as a team.”

The women’s Thunderwolves basketball team is currently at 5-1, and second in the OUA West.

“We will have our work cut out for us both nights,” Kreiner says, “and must be ready to compete for 80 minutes.”

The Lakehead men’s basketball team returns home having lost their last three games, all on the road. They currently sit at 2-4.

“Queen’s and York both present some challenges for us,” Thunderwolves head coach Ryan Thomson says. “They play hard from the tip, cut with a purpose, and are unselfish.”

Queen’s is currently at 4-3, while York comes to the Thunderdome at 2-5, also having lost their last three games.

“Defensively, we’re going to need to be ready to communicate and finish possessions with defensive rebounds,” Thomson says. “Offensively, we need to continue to get paint threats and cause shrinks, which typically lead to good shots for us.”

Queen’s is currently fourth in the OUA in rebounds per game, while York sits last.

The women’s games begin at 6pm on both Friday the 23rd, and Saturday the 24th, with the men’s games following at 8pm.

Basketball games are available via Webcast courtesy of OUA.TV

On Saturday, November 24th, the Lakehead Thunderwolves family will be paying respects to Dave Parsons between the women’s and men’s basketball games. Dave was a former member of the Lakehead basketball program, a professor at Lakehead, a local referee, and a friend. The Thunderwolves extend an open invitation to all members of our extended community to join us in remembering and honouring Dave. A memorial ceremony will take place in the Hangar Lounge at 6:45pm. Light drinks and snacks will be provided.