The Waterloo Warriors stepped onto the court Wednesday evening, aware of the challenge ahead as they took on the Queen's Gaels in OUA playoff action.

The Gaels wasted no time showing their skill, surging to an 18-8 lead. But despite the early setback, the Warriors showed flashes of resilience. Nehita Oko-Oboh (Ottawa, ON) crashed the boards with authority, securing key rebounds, while Kymora Stafford (Toronto, ON) turned away shots with towering blocks. Though the score suggested a lopsided start, the intensity on the court told a different story, this was a battle far from over.

With the first punch thrown, the Warriors retaliated. They tightened their defense, amped up their offensive pressure, and began to claw their way back. Carina Fiore (Newmarket, ON) and Jaimesen Newell (Brussels, ON) led the charge, their precision scoring igniting a shift in momentum. The Warriors moved the ball with purpose, and their unselfish play broke through the Gaels' defense. Shot after shot, stop after stop, the game became closer.

Into the third quarter, the fight raged on. Every possession became a duel, with neither side willing to let up. The Warriors matched the Gaels step for step, trading blows in a relentless back and forth battle but the Gaels early attained lead was still holding them ahead.

As the final quarter began, the Warriors knew they had one last push to make. Their defense stood tall, refusing to break, but the early deficit loomed. With time slipping away, they fought with everything they had, contesting every shot, and battling for every loose ball. But Queen's held firm, taking the win in the OUA playoff match.