After having been beaten only once in their first nine games, the Queen’s women’s basketball team limped home from Ottawa Saturday night having just absorbed their second defeat in a little more than 24 hours, 86-66 to the Carleton Ravens.

The Ravens scored 25 points and took a 13-point lead in the first quarter, and they led 43-28 at halftime. In winning for the eighth time in 12 games this year, Carleton put the contest in its pocket with a 20-11 third quarter.

Marianne Alarie came off the bench to score 17 points for Queen’s, which began the week as the No. 10-ranked team in Canada. The performance was just one point off her career best, and she achieved it with 7-for-10 shooting from the field, including 2-for-2 from three-point range.

Sarah Saftich had a career-best 10 points, also off the bench, as Queen’s got 32 points from its reserves, just two fewer than it got from its starters.

Andrea Priamo scored 15 points for the Gaels, nine of which came from the free-throw line, from where she missed just once.

The Ravens kept a tight lid on Queen’s top shooter, fifth-year senior Jenny Wright, who was held to just four points, almost nine below her season average.

Stephanie Carr and Nicole Gilmore scored 18 points apiece for Carleton, while Heather Lindsay added 17. The Ravens were 12-for-25 from beyond the three-point arc, and they outrebounded Queen’s 43-32.

The Gaels, 9-3, are tied for first place in the OUA East with Ryerson. They’ll resume play Friday night at the Athletics and Recreation Centre, playing their first home game in 76 days, against Guelph.