Hamilton, Ont. - The McMaster women's basketball team took down the Toronto Varsity Blues on Friday night at Burridge Gymnasium. In the 81-72 win, Hailey Milligan (Brantford, Ont.) was named McMaster's Player of the Game for her 19 points and 11 rebounds. 

Early in the first the Marauders would come storming out with a 14-2 lead forcing the Blues to call an early timeout. Toronto wouldn't score again until the scoreboard read 18-2 for the Marauders. At the buzzer at the end of hte first, Milligan would sink a shot from the top of the key to give McMaster the 12 points lead at 23-11 going into the second quarter.

Things continued to get even better for the Marauders as Samantha Hunt (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.) would score a basket at the seven minute mark in the second to extend the lead to 19. Throughout the quarter, the Marauders would maintain their large lead. The half would end with a score of 41-26 in favour of the home team. Taylor Chiarot (Hamilton, Ont.) would lead the pack with 14 points thus far. 

Despite the half court press the Blues used thoughout the game, it would be no problem for McMaster as Toronto continued to struggle on offence. Through the third, the Marauders would uphold hte double-digit lead. With four minutes left in the quarter, Toronto would get within 11 but a three-pointer from Vanessa Bonomo (Dundas, Ont.) would halt Toronto's momentum. At the end of the third, Chiarot would have 21 points on the board and Milligan would have another 12. 

McMaster was still up by 15 half way through the fourth as the Blues had trouble breaking the double-digit point barrier all game. Jill Stratton for Toronto would lead the way in hopes of a comeback for the Blues as she grabbed her own rebound, sunk the shot and on the next possession would draw a foul. Up by just ten, the Marauders couldn't find a way to settle Stratton and she would pull her team within seven with two minutes to go in the game. That's as close as the Blues would get as the Marauders finished out the game on top with a score of 81-72. 

Stratton was the game-high scorer with 25 points on the night and was also named Toronto's Player of the Game.

For the Marauders Chiarot and Milligan both earned the double-double on the night. Chiarot, the fifth-year captain, recorded 23 points and 10 rebounds. Milligan added another 19 points and 11 rebounds for the Marauders and Jaklynn Nimec (Binbrook, Ont.) would earn another 10 points on the night.

McMaster hosts the Ryerson Rams Saturday night at Burridge Gymnasium at 6:00 p.m. in their last game before the break.