HAMILTON, Ont. - After winning three straight games, the McMaster Marauders women's basketball team will now have its second meeting of the season with the Brock Badgers on Wednesday night, a rival in the OUA Central Division. Just three days later, the Marauders will face the Algoma Thunderbirds at home in the team's annual Think Pink/Shoot for the Cure game. Game time is set for 6pm both days.  
The Marauders and Badgers met earlier this season in November at Burridge Gymnasium. After knocking down eight 3-pointers in the opening quarter, the Marauders never trailed in the contest and grabbed a 66-53 victory over the Badgers. Sarah Gates (Newmarket, Ont.) led the way for the Marauders with 13 points, ten rebounds and two steals. Mia Spadafora (Hannon, Ont.) and Cassie Joli-Coeur (Johnstown, Ont.) were the other Marauders to finish the night in double-digits with 12 and 10, respectively. Prior to that, McMaster and Brock last matched-up in March of 2022 in an OUA quarterfinal contest. In a defensive battle, the Badgers snuck past the Marauders by a 49-45 scoreline, the closest contest between the squads since the return to competition. Twelve games into the 2022-23 OUA season, Brock sits at a 7-5 record, and are coming off two wins against the Ontario Tech Ridgbacks and Algoma Thunderbirds. The Queen's Gaels handed the Badgers their first loss of the calendar year in the 2023 opener by a 74-45 scoreline. The Marauders hold a narrow edge over the last 11 meetings between the two squads, with McMaster recording the victory in six of those contests.

Although normally members of two different divisions, McMaster and Algoma were grouped together for the 2021-22 OUA season. The two teams faced each other in Sault Ste. Marie on November 19, 2021 and November 20, 2021. In the first game of the series, he Marauders hit the court running. The team put away 19 early points in the first quarter, while holding the Thunderbirds to shooting 5-17 from the field goal range and 0-5 from the three point range to secure a 73-53 win. In the rematch, the McMaster women's basketball team shut out the Algoma Thunderbirds 83-53. Sarah Gates led all scorers with 18 points. The Marauders spread the wealth with four scorers entering double digits - Claire Sharkey and Amy Stinson both putting up 12, followed by Arianne Soriano with 11 points and three steals, rebounds, and assists, all joining Gates. Algoma has struggled this season and are in search of their first win of the 2022-23 OUA campaign. The Thunderbirds are coming off two losses at the hands of the Queen's Gaels and Brock Badgers and will look to secure that elusive victory this weekend after making the 735 kilometre trip from Sault Ste. Marie to Hamilton.

After returning to home court, the McMaster Marauders have been dominant. Picking up three straight wins to start the calendar year and coming out on top in eight of their last nine contests, the Marauders will look to cement themselves as the top team in the OUA Central Division and add two more victories to their resume. 
   

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Last Time Out

In last Friday's contest, the Marauders earned a 72-59 victory against Laurentian, holding the Voaygeurs to just seven points in the fourth quarter. Senior guard, Sarah Gates (Newmarket, Ont.), recorded her fourth 30+ point OUA performance of the season, adding 11 rebounds and three steals. Arianne Soriano (Mississauga, Ont.) and Deanna Mataseje (Ancaster, Ont.) combined for 15 points while Clare Sharkey (Newmarket, Ont.) had 10 rebounds. On Saturday, the home team knocked down fourteen 3-pointers throughout the contest, never trailed and grabbed an 82-49 victory over the Nipissing Lakers, moving to 9-4 on the season. Sarah Gates (Newmarket, Ont.) led the way for the Marauders with 25 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Jenna Button (Dundas, Ont.) (12) and Cassie Joli-Coeur (Johnstown, Ont.) (10) were the other Marauders to finish the night in double-digits.
 

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Players to Watch

Brock Badgers
 
#12 Madalyn Weinert, 2nd Year, Guard

• Ranks fourth in the OUA in offensive rebounds - 47
• Recorded 14 blocks, fourth best in the conference
• Averages 39.7% from the field

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

• Leads the nation in scoring (26.2 PPG)
• Ranks third in the conference in defensive rebounds with 85
• Averages 46.7% from the field and 38.3% from 3-point range

Algoma Thunderbirds
 
#11 Bethany Balaktsis, 2nd Year (Elig.), Forward

• Team leader in points per game - 12.1
• Ranks fifth in the conference in defensive rebounds with 80
• Has 19 steals in 14 games this season

 

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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.