It all came down to the fourth quarter tonight for the McMaster Marauders women's basketball team, who ultimately fell to the Western Mustangs 72-69 at the Burridge Gym on Saturday afternoon.
 
In an early Friday matchup, the Marauders got off to an early start in due part to a 12-0 first quarter run highlighted by a steal and a bucket from fifth-year forward Christina Buttenham. She would go on to knock down a three, as well as grab five boards, giving the Marauders a 23-13 lead to end the first.
 
The Mustangs came into the second with new life on the back of a 9-2 run. Picking up baskets off of three Marauders turnovers, the Mustangs called a timeout that proved effective immediately. Marauders guard Sarah Gates put up six points down the stretch giving her side a 34-26 lead going into the half.
 
Much of the game changed during the third as the Mustangs outscored the Marauders 24-16 coming out of the halftime huddle. Western's guard-forward combo of Rachel Fradgley and Elizabeth Leblanc went a combined 5-6 in the frame, accounting for 14 of the 'Stangs total points, getting their side within two going into the fourth.
 
A back and forth affair for much of the period, the Marauders struggled to slip away from the visiting side who went on a 8-1 run in the final frame to go up 69-62 midway through. Gates and Buttenham scored the Marauders final seven points down stretch, but it would prove to be too short.
 
The Marauders come out of the week 1-1 after taking two sides that had no more than 2 losses on their record coming in, having dropped the No. 6 Lancers earlier in the week.
 
With the loss they fall to 7-7 on the season, good for fourth in the OUA Central division, while the Mustangs move to first in the OUA West sporting a 14-2 record.
 
NEXT UP: The Marauders will continue their home stand at the Burridge Gym next week, as they take on the Queen's Gaels and Ontario Tech Ridgebacks.