HAMILTON, Ont. - At 5-3, the McMaster Marauders women's basketball team sits atop the OUA Central standings. The team will close out the 2022 calendar year on the road against the undefeated Guelph Gryphons and OUA Central competitor, the York Lions. This week's competition tips off Wednesday night in Guelph and will resume on Saturday at 6pm in Toronto. 
   
The Marauders and Gryphons have met 17 times since 2011 with McMaster owning the recent series 13-4. The two squads last met on November 13, 2021 in Burridge Gym where the home team secured a 74-70 victory. Sarah Gates led all players that night with 38 points and 11 rebounds, shooting 66.7% from field goal range in 33 minutes of action. The Guelph Gryphons who made it all the way to the OUA semi-finals last year, are just one of three remaining teams in the OUA with a perfect record in 2022-23, sitting at 6-0 in the standings. The Gryphons have had a strong start to the OUA campaign, earning two wins against the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks, and the Algoma Thunderbirds while picking up single game victories over the Lakehead Thunderwolves and York Lions. Guelph's closest game this season was an 82-72 contest in Toronto. The No. 7 nationally-ranked Gryphons will look to extend their record to 7-0 on Wednesday night.

With last year's split in divisions, McMaster and York have had a season apart and will look to regain familiarity with one another on Saturday for the second match-up of the season. The Marauders and Lions matched-up earlier this season in November and, prior to that, met in February of 2020. Just a few weeks ago, Sarah Gates made McMaster history in the Marauders' 89-81 win over the York Lions with a school-record 47 point performance. The Marauders led by as many as 23, but had to stave off a fourth-quarter push by the Lions to secure their first conference win of the season. This weekend, the Lions (3-4) will look to earn a win in the rematch, after coming off a quality 66-58 victory over the Brock Badgers last weekend.

After a long travel day on Friday, McMaster edged the Thunderwolves by a single point before rolling to an 85-57 victory on Saturday. The Marauders are coming off four straight wins and will look to extend their record this weekend to finish out 2022 on a high note.
   

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Last Time Out

On Saturday night, the Marauders faced the Lakehead Thunderwolves for the second time this weekend Leading by 22 points at the halftime break, the Marauders collected a win in convincing style, defeating the host Thunderwolves by a final score of 85-57. The Marauders scored the first basket of the game and didn't look back, outscoring Lakehead 28-12 in the opening 10 minutes of play to hold a comfortable advantage headed into the second stanza. McMaster continued to drive the net in the second quarter, again outscoring the Thunderwolves, to take a 49-27 lead into the break. The Marauders faced their challenges in the third quarter but held the hosts to just 15 points, leading 66-42 heading into the final frame. The fourth quarter was more of the same for McMaster who earned a convincing 85-57 victory.
 

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Players to Watch

Guelph Gryphons
 
#7 Mackeely Shantz, 3rd Year (Elig.), Guard

• Sits 1st in the conference with a 95.8 FT%
• Averages 18.0 PPG
• Has recorded 50 rebounds this season

#21 Natalie Vigna, 4th Year (Elig.), Guard

• Shoots 33.3% from three-point range
• Averages 3.3 rebounds per game
• Has 10 steals this season

York Lions
 
#6 Cyanna King, 5th Year (Elig.), Forward

• Ranks second in the OUA in FG Pct - 56.9%
• Leads the OUA with 44 offensive rebounds
• #1 in the conference in blocks with 17 total

#13 Kiara Leveridge, 2nd Year (Elig.), Guard

• Average 12.0 points per game
• Has recorded 45 rebounds this season
• Plays 25.3 minutes per game

McMaster Marauders
 
#8 Sarah Gates, 5th Year (Elig.), Guard

• OUA leader in total points (215) and PPG (26.9)
• Sits second in the conference in defensive rebounds with 50
• Has played 254 minutes this season, topping the province

#9 Mia Spadafora, 5th Year (Elig.), Guard

• Averages 42.5% from outside the arc
• Has recorded 35 total rebounds this season
• Is on the court for 23.0 minutes each game

 

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Wednesday's Game Coverage

Watch Live: https://oua.yaretv.com/

Twitter: @McMasterSports

Instagram: @mcmasterwbb

Saturday's Game Coverage

Watch Live: https://oua.yaretv.com/

Twitter: @McMasterSports

Instagram: @mcmasterwbb
 

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For the latest news and updates on the McMaster Marauders, follow @mcmastersports on social media or visit www.marauders.ca.