Despite a slow start, the McMaster Marauders women's basketball team flexed their championship pedigree, and knocked down the No. 6 nationally ranked Windsor Lancers in a big way on Wednesday night, winning 70-52 at the Burridge Gym.
 
Both teams struggled early on in the first quarter. The Lancers missed on six straight shot attempts, while the Marauders were held to only 14% shooting from field goal and three-point territory, in a slow 19-8 opening frame in favour of the Lancers.
 
Fifth-year veteran Christian Buttenham had a quarter to remember heading into the second frame. After opening the period on a 7-0 run thanks to free-throws from Julia Hanaka and Sarah Gates, Buttenham would go on to knock down four three-pointers for an impressive 18 points in the second alone. But that wasn't enough for the U SPORTS champion who also picked up five steals on the defensive end, a big attribution to the Lancers nine turnovers in the frame.
 
The Marauders outscored the visitors by an overwhelming 27-9 in the second, and the dominance only continued coming out of the halftime huddle.
 
Wanting to leave her mark on the game as well, Gates got in on the offensive action, shooting 5-9 in the third quarter, highlighted by back-to-back three pointers. Gates and Buttenham led all shooters with four three-pointers each, accounting for eight of the Marauders 10 – their second highest total as a team this season.
 
Down the stretch, Gates only improved on her production dropping 14 out of the Marauders 19 points in the final frame, giving her 30 points on the night. Only the second time in her career Gates has dropped 30 points or more.
 
With the win, the Marauders now move up to 7-6 on the season, giving the No. 6 Lancers their second loss of the year, with an 11-2 record.
 
NEXT UP: The Marauders will continue their home stand with their second of four straight at the Burridge gym on Saturday afternoon against the Western Mustangs. Tip-off is schedule for 12pm.