Carleton Ravens win dual basketball titles for the first time in almost 40 years

It’s taken almost 40 years, but there are dual basketball titles once again at a Canadian university.

Over the weekend, the Carleton Ravens won both the men’s and women’s basketball titles, the first time the same university has won both in the same season since 1985.

Jacquline Urban, a guard from Ancaster, Ont., said winning the championship felt surreal.

“It was a crazy feeling, the adrenaline. You want to run, jump, hug, and scream; just let everything out. It was awesome,” said Urban.

The women’s team beat the Queen’s Gaels 71-59 to capture their second title. Their first championship came in 2018. Urban said she and her teammates were lucky enough to have friends and family in the crowd at the game.

“My dad was my first basketball coach ever. And right when it went out, the buzzer went off after we had the team. I just went to him, hugged him, and cried a little bit. He cried, and he was just he was so proud of me. And then, of course, my mom was there as well.”

They found out at the end of their game that the men’s gold medal game was still ongoing.

“We were all sitting there watching the video, and we celebrated like we just won again,” said Urban. “I think it’s crazy that the men’s and women’s teams won. We’re really good friends with the men’s team, so it’s cool that we get to celebrate not only with like the program but friends as well.

The men’s team had a comeback for the ages. They were down 23 points at the half but beat St. Francis Xavier University 109-104 in double overtime. It’s the Carleton men’s team’s fourth-straight title.

Guard Wazir Latiff, who was on the championship-winning team last year, said after a couple of tough losses, some doubted whether they could bring them back to the championship.

“We used that as fuel to be able to prove everybody wrong and stick together and show that we’re putting in the work,” said Latiff, telling CityNews they found out right after their game that the women had won as well.

“Right before we got our medals, we were lined up, and our therapist comes over like, ‘The girls won, too.’ Everybody [went] even crazier than we already were. It just made the moment even more special.”

Urban, who was top three in field goals made, field goal percentage, minutes played, free-throws made, and points scored with her team, also won the Rookie of the Year award.

“I didn’t know the number of opportunities I could have [to play],” she admitted. “I don’t think I would have ever guessed that I would be Rookie of the Year, and so knowing that I was nominated was one thing. Hearing my name being called, I had no idea. I was nervous. The emotions I had — I was so happy.”

Only two other schools managed this feat- the British Columbia Thunderettes/Thunderbirds in 1972 and the University of Victoria in 1985.