Box Score A strong defensive effort all game helped the No. 3 ranked McMaster women's basketball team secure a 79-57 win over the Toronto Varsity Blues on Saturday afternoon.
 
Both teams started the game out well, with Toronto holding an 8-7 lead midway through the first quarter. However, Mac upped the intensity on the defensive end going on a 13-3 run to end the quarter, and leading 20-11 after 10 minutes.
 
McMaster kept things rolling offensively in the second quarter. The lead began to grow until a technical foul was called on Blues head coach Michele Belanger. From then until the end of the half Toronto found their offence, cutting the Marauders 18-point lead to as low as nine before the teams went into halftime with Mac leading 45-32.
 
Both teams struggled offensively to start the second half, but McMaster picked it up late while keeping up their strong defensive pressure to take a 19-point lead into the final quarter.
 
Needing a quick run the Blues came into the fourth quarter strong, holding McMaster without a field goal until there was just over five minutes left in the game. But the Marauders followed that up with a 9-2 run over the next two minutes to help secure the 22-point win.
 
Danielle Boiago led the Marauders in scoring with 15 points, while also grabbing seven boards. Clare Kenney and Rachael Holmes added 11 points each, and Hilary Hanaka chipped in 10 points.
 
The Marauders shot 39% from the field in the win, while holding Toronto to just 28%.
 
Now at 13-2 in the OUA, the Marauders next game is at home against Waterloo next Saturday (Feb. 4) with tip off set for noon.
 
The game can be streamed online at OUA.tv and is on radio on CFMU 93.3FM
 
by Jonah Tuck