For a half, the Marauders were getting the better of a showdown against one of the West Division's top teams in the no. 9-ranked Guelph Gryphons.

But when their level dropped off in the second half, the Gryphons took advantage and raced away with a 92-60 win at Burridge Gym, dealing the Marauders their second loss of the season.

Guelph improved to 4-0 and kept pace at the top of the OUA West, while McMaster fell to 3-2 and currently sits third in the OUA Central.

Third-year guard Sarah Gates led the Marauders with 22 points in a losing effort, but shot just eight of 21 from the field, while Mia Spadafora joined her in double digits with 16 points on five of eight from the field and four of six from three-point range.

Shooting 28 per cent overall, the Marauders started more brightly, hitting 15 of 43 shots in the first half while staking a four-point lead at the break. But after making four of 12 shots in the third quarter, Mac went just two for 20 in the fourth as the hosts' chances of victory faded away.

The Marauders led by as many as 10 points in the second quarter, stretching their advantage to 27-17 with 7:30 to play when Spadafora drained a layup. Pulling to within four at the halftime break when Sarah Holmes made a final jumper for 41-37, the Gryphons built on that momentum after returning from the locker room.

A 13-0 run saw Guelph surge ahead 52-43 in the early stages of the third, and the visitors did not look back from there.

NEXT UP: The Marauders remain at Burridge Gym, where they welcome the Toronto Varsity Blues to Hamilton on Saturday, November 16. That game will tip off at noon and be webcasted live on OUA.tv.