Box Score As they close out the regular season this weekend on their home court, the Nipissing Lakers women's basketball was hoping for a strong weekend.

The Lakers played host to the Queen's Gaels Friday night at the Robert J. Surtees Athletic Centre.

A strong start and late push kept the Lakers close to the OUA's top team, but in the end, the Gels came away with the 59-53 win over Nipissing.

The Lakers jumped out to an early lead, up 9-7 midway through the quarter as they started strong at both ends of the court.

Nipissing finished the quarter in style as well, outscoring Queen's 11-8 down the stretch to head into the first quarter break up 20-15.

The Gaels chipped away at the Lakers lead, closing the gap and just after the midway point of the second quarter, took a 25-24 lead over Nipissing.

At the halftime break, the Lakers trailed the Gaels 29-27 as Queen's pushed back in the later stages of the half after a strong start by Nipissing.

In the third, the Gaels continued to pull away, extending their lead throughout the quarter.

A 10-2 run to start the quarter put Queen's in control and they wrapped up the third leading 50-38.

In the fourth, the Lakers stuck around, but still trailed by 11, as they were down 56-45.

A quick push by the Lakers got them within seven with 2:44 left in the fourth quarter.

Nipissing managed to outscore Queen's in the fourth, 15-9, but their comeback fell short in the end, as they fell by six points.

Nicole Budd led the Lakers attack with 20 points, Krystal Osburn added 12 points and 10 rebounds and Celeste Dupuis had 11 in the contest.

Nipissing closes out the regular season Saturday night against the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks.

Tip-off is set for 6pm.