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HOME OF THE MCMASTER MARAUDERS
WBB - Harper - Saskatchewan
Hung Le
66
Saskatchewan Huskies SSK
73
Winner McMaster Marauders MAC
Saskatchewan Huskies SSK
66
Final
73
McMaster Marauders MAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Saskatchewan Huskies SSK 13 20 14 19 66
McMaster Marauders MAC 16 17 26 14 73

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

Women's Basketball: Marauders Take Down Huskies 73-66 to Advance to First Ever National Final

McMaster won a national semifinal for the first time on its third attempt

For 29 years, the national semifinal was a hurdle that the Marauders could not clear.

No longer.

Never trailing the Canada West champion Saskatchewan Huskies Saturday, the OUA champion Marauders defeated the Huskies 73-66 to advance to the first national final in program history.

McMaster had previously played in national semifinals in 1990 and 2008, losing on both of those occasions before bouncing back to win bronze.

"We made history tonight," said McMaster head coach Theresa Burns. "This is the best team that McMaster has ever had, regardless of whether it's a gold or silver medal tomorrow. These women just made history and I'm so proud of them."

"When other teams hit a big shot, we come and answer back. It's that confidence and fearlessness that this team has this year that has been a difference maker. We share the ball, and when we're coming at you in a wave of five, who knows who will score."

Following her career high 32 points in McMaster's quarterfinal victory over Concordia, second-year guard Sarah Gates excelled once again Saturday, with 21 points on nine of 15 from the field.

Held to just two points and eight minutes in the first half after a pair of early fouls, Hilary Hanaka exploded for 17 points in the second half and hit the first three shots she attempted from beyond the arc.

The forward duo of Linnaea Harper and Christina Buttenham both found success on both ends of the floor en route to double doubles. Harper had 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Buttenham posted 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Saturday's result marked McMaster's fourth consecutive win over Saskatchewan dating back to 2015, and improved the Marauders to 2-0 in meetings with the Huskies at the national championship tournament. Saskatchewan boasts an 11-8 record against McMaster overall.

The Marauders will now meet the winners of the day's second semifinal, between the top-seeded Laval Rouge et Or and fourth-seeded Ottawa Gee-Gees, at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 10 for the right to host the Bronze Baby trophy as national champions.

Signalling their intent from the opening tip off, McMaster scored the first six points of the contest to secure the early momentum.

Trouble arrived for the Marauders when Hanaka received her second foul of the game inside six minutes played, and was promptly removed from the contest for much of what remained of the half.

Despite that setback, McMaster stubbornly defended its lead, and boasted a 16-13 advantage through a quarter after a layup from forward Olivia Wilson.

Saskatchewan levelled the game at 16 on its first possession of the second quarter, but Mac answered immediately with Gates hitting three consecutive buckets to restore the lead with 7:30 to play in the half.

In the absence of her veteran teammate, Gates provided the steady hand for the Marauders, with 16 points in the first half while hitting seven of 13 attempts from the field.

McMaster led by as many as eight points in the quarter, moving ahead 33-25 when Buttenham made good on two looks from the free throw line with 3:40 to play. But the Canada West champions reeled off the last eight points of the half to level once again at the break, and sent the teams into the locker room deadlocked at 33.

Re-inserting Hanaka into the mix to open the third, the Marauders found their top gear in that quarter to decisively grab control of the contest, and outscored the Huskies 26-14 in the frame.

The veteran point guard had nine points in the third, and knocked down a crucial three-pointer with 3:20 to play in the quarter that pushed Mac ahead 48-40 and spurred a dominant spell of play.

Scoring four buckets to close the quarter in quick succession, the Marauders capped it with a pair of Hanaka steals that led to layups for Buttenham underneath, and Mac suddenly enjoyed a 12-point advantage when the third came to a close at 59-47.

Leading by 10 with under six minutes to play, McMaster saw its offence slow but raised its defensive level in response, and stayed composed at the free throw line as Saskatchewan fouled in desperation.

The Marauders made eight of 10 from the charity stripe in the final five, and saw out the 73-66 win despite not making a shot from the field in eight minutes of play to close the contest.

"Coming down the stretch, we felt like if we could protect the three point line and keep Saskatchewan chipping away at twos, we would be in good shape," said Burns. "It was total team defence. They scored for sure, but I thought we handled them well."
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