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Credit Jacob Mallari
Credit Jacob Mallari
March 16, 2025

Gee-Gees ride off with women’s basketball bronze

The Ottawa Gee-Gees claimed the bronze medal at the 2025 INDOCHINO U SPORTS Women's Final 8 with a hard-fought 68-61 victory over the UBC Thunderbirds on Sunday night at War Memorial Gymnasium. The Gee-Gees, led by a strong performance from Natsuki Szczokin, secured the third bronze medal in program history, after 2012 and 2019.
 
Ottawa started strong, building a 26-11 lead after the first quarter, thanks to Szczokin's all-around play, which included 14 points, eight assists, and eight steals. The Gee-Gees maintained their momentum in the second quarter, but UBC fought back, cutting the deficit to 40-29 by halftime. The Thunderbirds' Jessica Clarke and Mona Berlitz led the charge, combining for 31 points and 22 rebounds, but UBC struggled to contain Ottawa's balanced attack.
 
The third quarter saw UBC close the gap further, outscoring Ottawa 21-8, thanks to a surge from Keira Daly, who finished with 14 points. However, the Gee-Gees regained their composure in the final frame, with Allie McCarthy scoring 10 of her team-high 20 points in the fourth quarter to seal the victory. Ottawa's defense also stepped up, forcing 26 turnovers and converting them into 24 points.
 
UBC's late push, highlighted by Daly's clutch three-pointer, wasn't enough to overcome Ottawa's resilience. The Gee-Gees shot 46.3% from the field and outrebounded UBC 32-38, securing their place on the podium. For UBC, Clarke's 17 points and 15 rebounds were a bright spot in an otherwise challenging game.
 
Ottawa's victory capped a strong tournament run where they matched their best performance at a national championship and finished with a 30-4 overall record, only the second time they have crossed the 30-win plateau. UBC, for their part, closes out the year at 27-6, their best year since 2014-15.
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