The McMaster women's basketball team locked up a date in the first round of the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) playoffs with a 65-60 defeat of the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks Saturday afternoon at the Burridge Gymnasium.
Taylor Chiarot finished with a game high 17 points to increase her McMaster all-time career scoring reccord to 1289 points.
The ball game was fairly even in the opening quarter with both teams exchanging baskets. At the sound of the first quarter buzzer the game was tied 18-18.
The Marauders opened the game up in the second quarter going on an 11-2 run with Vanessa Bonomo and Liz Burns getting a number of good looks in transition.
The Marauders would head to the locker room up 34-26 at the half. Hailey Miligan and Chiarot each had seven points in the first half. Bonomo had six points.
Out of the break the Golden Hawks responded with Laura Doyle sparking a rally on some hot shooting to cut the Marauder lead to 38-34. Laurier would go on an 18-10 run to open the quarter and tie the game at 44-44 with just over three minutes left in the third.
Despite some cold shooting from the field and Haily Milligan sidelined with her fourth foul the Marauders made all six of there free throw attempts in the remaing time to hold a narrow 52-51 lead at the third quarter buzzer.
With Milligan on the bench Chiarot had to handle the interior herself and she opened the quarter with a basket to give the Marauders back a three point lead. The Golden Hawks immediately responded with a basket by Christa Mancino and a three from Courtney Bruce to take their first lead since early in the game.
Fourtantely for the Marauders, Burns would tie the game after a long scoring drought and Abby Hurd would drain a timely three to reestablish a three point McMaster lead. A lead they would not relinquish down the stretch.
Burns was named the Big Mac Player of the Game finsihing with 16 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists.
Laura Doyle was the Player of the Game for Laurier scoring 11 points. Kimberley Yeldon was the top scorer for the Golden Hawks with a 13 point 12 rebound double double performance.
With the win Marauders concluded their conference schedule at 11-11 and will advance to the first round of the OUA Playoffs on February 22. Laurier finished just ahead of McMaster in the standings at 13-9.
After the game graduating seniors Chiarot and Alyska Lukan where honoured. Former players turned support staff members Rebecca Rewi and Leanne Schildorth where also honoured.
