Starting the new year off on the wrong foot, the visiting Ryerson Rams shot effectively, much to the dismay of the McMaster Marauders women's basketball team who fell 85-46 at the Burridge Gym on Wednesday night.
 
The Marauders started off hot hitting a pair of early three-pointers from guards Arianne Soriano and Hilary Hanaka to take a 6-2 lead. But the Rams responded swiftly.
 
Third-year veterans Marin Scotten and Jama Bin-Edward carried much of the load for the visitors early on, accounting for 11 of the teams 17 points in the first quarter, shooting a combined 5-11.
 
The Marauders looked to find their second wind after the Rams went on an 8-0 run to start the second quarter. Third-year guard Sarah Gates ended the drought with a reverse layup, followed by a steal from forward Christna Buttenham that led to another Gates layup on the other end.
 
The Rams chimed in with a basket of their own, but Marauders Olivia Wilson responded with a free-throw and a layup to cap a 9-2 run to bring the score within seven.
 
But that turned out to be the closest the Marauders would get. Scotten nipped the run with a three-pointer to stretch the Rams lead to 10.
 
Effective shooting proved to be a recurring theme throughout the game, as the No. 5 nationally ranked Rams shot 50% from field goal, as well as behind the arc in the second quarter alone, to take a daunting 36-20 lead on route to the win.
 
Gates led all Marauders scorers with 14 points, as well as five rebounds and two steals, while Buttenham added eight points and six boards.
 
With much of the season left to play, this will surely be an effort soon forgotten. The Marauders look ahead to this weekend as they take on another divisional opponent, the York Lions, on the road at the Tait McKenzie Centre on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 6pm.