HAMILTON, Ont. - After falling to the Guelph Gryphons in November, the McMaster Marauders women's basketball team got its revenge, earning a 70-63 victory to advance to the OUA semifinals.
The Marauders got off to a hot start but the Gryphons would battle back. The hosts went ahead on a first quarter buzzer beater and held off the Gryphons the rest of the way to secure the seven-point win.
"We kept our foot on the gas and didn't let up," McMaster guard
Sarah Gates said about the tight game. "This team just needs to keep our energy high. We need to keep believing in ourselves and pushing hard and we'll be in good shape [going forward]."
With the score tied at 61-61 and just under three minutes remaining the in the 4th quarter, McMaster would end the game on a 9-2 run to earn a 70-63 victory over the Gryphons. A senior guard, Gates accounted for two of the maroon and grey's scores down the stretch, while also coming up with a block and outlet pass to teammate
Jenna Button who sealed the victory.
The Marauders'
Jenna Button said the team remained calm and played controlled basketball, even during Guelph's offensive runs.
"It was a tough win. Guelph is obviously a really good team. But the biggest thing for us was that any runs they had, we had to stop. We were focused on getting the stop and getting the score - that was it. We really stuck together. We played controlled and together and that helped us succeed."
McMaster was narrowly outshot by Guelph 34.7 percent from the floor and 32 percent from three-point range, compared to 34.2 percent from the floor and 18.2 percent from three-point range for the Marauders. The hosts were strong on the glass, out-rebounding the Gryphons 44-38 and outscoring them in the paint, 34-24.
"It was a nail biter as all playoff games normally are," said Head Coach,
Theresa Burns. "It's going to come down to little moments here and there in the game and just little individual details but it feels really, really good to get this group through to a deeper round in the playoffs and put ourselves one game away from an OUA Championship."
Gates
finished with a game high 29 points, pulled in eight rebounds, recorded one assist, forced two steals and came up with three blocks. Button also scored in double digits for the Marauders, pouring in 15 points.
Next Up
With the win, the Marauders advanced to the OUA semifinals where they will travel to Ottawa to face the Carleton Ravens on Wednesday March 1st at 6pm. A spot in the Critelli Cup Final will be on the line.
