The Critelli Cup playoffs are underway and for the Queen's Gaels, it’s time to defend home court.
The Queen's Gaels (21-1) — ranked No. 1 in the OUA and No. 2 in U SPORTS — welcome the York Lions (11-11) to Kingston tomorrow, with a trip to the OUA semifinal on the line.
After a dominant regular season, Queen’s secured the conference’s top seed — and with it, the advantage of hosting throughout the playoffs. A semifinal matchup against either the No. 4 seed Carleton Ravens or the No. 5 seed Guelph Gryphons looms, but the Gaels’ attention remains locked in on handling business tomorrow night on their home floor.
Last Meeting
The Gaels controlled the previous matchup in emphatic fashion, cruising to a 78-34 victory. While the score was tight after one quarter (17-16 Queen’s), the Gaels flipped a switch, outscoring York 61-18 over the final three frames.
Brooke Hussey led the charge with 19 points on an efficient 8-of-12 shooting night, while Kiyara Letlow imposed her will inside with 17 points and 13 rebounds.
Defensively, Queen’s neutralized York’s top offensive threat, holding leading scorer Kiara Leveridge to just nine points, well below her 14.5 points per game average, on a difficult 1-of-18 performance from the field.
By the Numbers
Queen’s (Regular Season Averages):
80.1 points per game
44.4% field goal percentage
35.5% from three
38.1 rebounds per game
York (Regular Season Averages):
64.0 points per game
32% field goal percentage
24.4% from three
35.6 rebounds per game
Statistically, the Gaels hold the edge in nearly every category. The only area where the margin is slim is rebounds per game, with Queen’s (38.1) narrowly ahead of York (35.6). The battle on the glass could prove to be a key factor tomorrow night.
Key Matchup: Letlow vs. Leveridge
Kiyara Letlow has been a force for Queen’s, averaging 16.4 points and 12.2 rebounds per game while shooting an impressive 54.7% from the field. Her physical presence and efficiency around the rim sets the tone for the Gaels on both ends of the court.
On the other side, Kiara Leveridge leads York with 14.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. For the Lions to pull off the upset, Leveridge will need to bounce back from her last outing against Queen’s and find ways to score more efficiently.
What to Watch For
If Queen’s controls the glass and avoids foul trouble, they should be well-positioned to advance. Their depth, shooting efficiency, and defensive discipline were overwhelming in the previous meeting
For York, the formula is simple but challenging: control the boards, limit second-chance opportunities, and find consistent offense to keep pressure on the Gaels.
With the postseason officially underway and home court in their favour, Queen’s has the opportunity to set the tone early and move one step closer to lifting the Critelli Cup. For York, however, the challenge is clear — a chance to walk into Kingston and upset the favourites on their own floor.
Something will have to give as the quest for the Critelli Cup continues.