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McMaster University Athletics

HOME OF THE MCMASTER MARAUDERS
WBB - H Hanaka - Stock
Rick Zazulak
71
Lakehead LAKEHEAD 12-2, 12-2
73
Winner McMaster MCMASTER 12-2, 12-2
Lakehead LAKEHEAD
12-2, 12-2
71
Final
73
McMaster MCMASTER
12-2, 12-2
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Lakehead LAKEHEAD 18 14 23 16 71
McMaster MCMASTER 17 13 20 23 73

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Fraser Caldwell, Sport Information Officer

Women's Basketball: #4 Marauders Ride Out Wild Fourth Quarter to Beat #10 Thunderwolves 73-71

McMaster took over sole possession of the top spot in the OUA West

For three quarters, the Lakehead Thunderwolves physicality on both ends of the floor kept them ahead of Friday's pivotal top 10 match up with the McMaster Marauders.

But, as the #4 Marauders began to find room to maneuver on offence in the fourth, and create consistent stops on the defensive end for the first time, the hosts found the means to edge the #10 Thunderwolves 73-71 in the first of two games between the teams in two days.

The win improved McMaster to 13-2 in OUA play, giving the Marauders sole possession of the top spot in the OUA West division which they had previously shared with the Thunderwolves.

Forward Christina Buttenham notched a double double with 15 points and 12 rebounds in the win, making good on eight of 10 trips to the free throw line.

Fresh from crossing the 1,000-point plateau a week earlier, guard Hilary Hanaka led the Marauders and the game with 23 points, hitting seven of 12 shots from the floor and eight of 10 from the free throw line.

McMaster held the OUA's leading scorer, Lakehead forward Leashja Grant, to 15 points on the night.

McMaster was rudely welcomed to Friday's top 10 matchup when Lakehead reeled off seven consecutive points to open the contest, finally being answered when Buttenham and Sarah Gates hit successive jumpers.

With their scoring touch beginning to return, the Marauders pulled within a point when Hanaka hit an and-one bucket underneath and converted from the charity stripe with 5:15 to play in the quarter.

The teams continued to trade buckets throughout the quarter, but McMaster's inability to slow the visitors and, particularly, Grant, saw the hosts trailing by a point at 18-17 through 10 minutes of play.

That trend continued in the second, with the Thunderwolves continuing to be the more efficient team and the Marauders using an edge in rebounding to stay in touch through second-chance opportunities.

A corner three from Gates gave McMaster a 26-25 lead with 3:34 to play in the half, and sent Lakehead to a timeout. But the Marauders once again went cold in the final minutes, and a Karissa Kajorinne triple pushed the Thunderwolves into a 32-28 and saw the hosts call a timeout of their own.

McMaster pulled within a bucket at the half, and stayed in touch despite shooting just 32 per cent as a team through 20 minutes of play, while Lakehead hit 12 of its 27 attempts from the field (44 per cent).

With the hosts continuing to struggle offensively, Lakehead built its biggest lead of the night at 10 points after another typical layup from Grant, forcing McMaster to the sideline yet again.

But the hosts used that break well, and fought within five at the quarter break when Gates got the triple to go off glass for 55-50.

What followed was a break-neck fourth quarter that saw the lead change hands five times before the Marauders ultimately grabbed the advantage for the last time in its final minute.

With their backs against the wall, the hosts upped their offensive output, hitting 57 per cent of their shots from the floor while Hanaka and Buttenham led the way with seven and five respectively in the quarter.

It was Hanaka who proved clutch with the game in her hands, hitting both free throws to push Mac ahead 72-71 as Grant fouled out. After Lakehead's final attempt from close range sailed wide of the mark and the Thunderwolves were forced to foul, Hanaka again hit from the stripe to cap the victory.

NEXT UP: The Marauders and Thunderwolves renew hostilities in a day's time, rematching at Burridge Gym Saturday at 2:00 PM.
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