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Both Queen’s Gaels basketball teams will be competing in the USPORTS national finals this week, adding another highlight to their great seasons.

The women’s team advanced to the Women’s Basketball Final 8 Championship in Sydney, N.S. thanks to their silver-medal finish in the OUA Critelli Cup. The Gaels lost 70-57 to the Carleton Ravens on Saturday at the ARC, with both teams advancing to the national tournament.

The Gaels, who finished the regular season with a best-ever 21-1 record, are seeded No. 3 and will face the No. 6-ranked UQAM Citadins. Tip-off is set for Thursday, March 9 at 10:30 a.m. EST.

On the men’s side, the Gaels were given an at-large invite to the Men’s Basketball Final 8 Championship in Halifax. The Gaels, the No. 5 seed, will open against the No. 4 St. Francis Xavier X-Men on Friday, March 10 at 5 p.m. EST.

The Gaels lost to the eventual OUA champion Carleton Ravens 93-86 in the semifinals last week. The team finished the regular season with a 17-5 record, the program's best in more than 50 years.

All U SPORTS Basketball Final 8 Championship games can be watched on CBC Gem and CBC YouTube. Click here for .

VOLLEYBALL

The Queen’s Gaels women’s volleyball team has a shot at a provincial title, advancing to the Quigley Cup final with a straight-sets win (25-22, 25-18, 25-13) over the Waterloo Warriors on Saturday.

Ranked No. 7 heading into the playdowns after a 13-9 regular season, the Gaels downed the No. 3 Warriors just days after upsetting the No. 2 Western Mustangs in straight sets as well.

The Gaels now face the top-seeded Brock Badgers for the Quigley Cup on Saturday, March 11, in St. Catharines (time TBD).

By reaching the OUA final, the team has an opportunity to advance to the USPORTS Women’s Volleyball Championship, starting Friday, March 17 in Vancouver.