After a nail-bitter of a fourth quarter, the McMaster Marauders women's basketball team came away with the 76-71 win over the No. 6 nationally ranked Queen's Gaels at the Burridge Gym on Friday evening.

Following a tight first quarter with only a point separating the two sides at 18-17 for the Gaels, the Marauders went on a tear in the second frame.

Defense was the key, as they held the Gaels to just 9.1% shooting, only hitting 1-of-11 from three compared to the Marauders 3-of-7, courtesy of Mia Spadafora's back-to-back triples.

Buttenham went into the half with 16 points to her name, and would go on to score a game-high 28 points, while Sarah Gates stuffed the stats sheet with three points, four assists, and six rebounds in the first half.

The Marauders got as far as 14 points ahead when they led 62-48 heading into the final quarter, but the storyline would change.

With 4:45 left down the stretch, Gates free-throw pushed their lead to 70-59, but the Gaels would go on a 10-2 run, to cut the deficit to three with just 18 seconds remaining after the visitors knocked down seven straight free-throws.

In an attempt to tie the game with a long range effort, the ensuing rebound fumbled amongst a mob of blue and maroon, ultimately falling to Gates who raced down the court only to be fouled. Gates knocked down both shots from the line, followed by Arianna Soriano who would also get a pair of free-throws, connecting on one to ice the win.

Soriano was a thorn in the side of the Gaels all-night, grabbing a team-high 10 rebounds along with Buttenham, as well as three steals, tied with Gates.

The win gives the Marauders their second in three games against ranked opponents, after defeating the then No. 6 ranked Windsor Lancers last Wednesday.

NEXT UP: The Marauders will return to the court tomorrow night to take on the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks for the first time in program history. The Ridgebacks are competing in their inaugural season. Tip-off is scheduled for 6pm.