BURLINGTON, Ont. – Another impressive regular season is in the books for the McMaster Marauders women's basketball team. The Marauders finished the season with a 17-5 record and have constantly been a threat in a very competitive OUA conference.
While McMaster remains focused on team performance in the post-season, two Marauders received OUA accolades on Wednesday for their performances this season. Senior guard,
Sarah Gates, headlines the major award winners as the 2022-23 OUA Women's Basketball Most Valuable Player. Joining her is
Arianne Soriano, the winner of the OUA's Joy Bellinger Award. Gates was also announced as a First Team All-Star.
Sarah Gates - OUA Women's Basketball - Most Valuable Player & OUA First Team All-Star
Human Behaviour
Newmarket, Ont.
Sarah Gates, a fifth-year guard from Newmarket, Ont., has been an impact player in the OUA over the past two seasons. She was named an OUA First Team All-Star and a U SPORTS 2
nd Team All-Canadian in 2021-22. As the 2022-23 OUA Most Valuable Player, Gates becomes the first McMaster player to receive the recognition in six years.
The Marauders' veteran led the conference in scoring, averaging 27.3 points per game, for a total of 600 points through 22 regular season games. The Newmarket local also ranks first in the OUA in field goals made (210), three-pointers (63) and in made free throws (117). The senior shot 48.3% from the field and 38.7% from 3-point range during her average of 30 minutes on the court each contest. In addition, Gates recorded 7.8 points per game, 43 assists, 30 steals and five blocks.
Nationally, Gates is also the U SPORTS scoring leader and ranks first in the country in points per game, total field goals and made three-pointers.
The Marauders' playmaker is a key reason that McMaster ranks first in the conference in scoring offense (76.1 per game) and secured third place in the OUA.
Gates will move on to be the OUA nomination for the U SPORTS Nan Copp Trophy, awarded to the nation's top player. Winners will be announced at the U SPORTS Awards Ceremony in Sydney, N.S. on Mar. 8.
Arianne Soriano - OUA Women's Basketball - Joy Bellinger Award Winner
Kinesiology
Mississauga, Ont.
Arianne Soriano, a fourth-year kinesiology student and starting point guard for the Marauders, is one of the leaders on the McMaster team. She brings an unparalleled level of energy to every drill and every practice and competes at the highest level every time she is on the court. Soriano is the rock of the Marauders' defense, averaging 4.7 defensive rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. She played in all 22 games, scored 4.3 points per game and added 3.0 assists each game.
In the classroom, Soriano is a top-notch student and a 4x U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian. As the President of McMaster's Varsity Leadership Committee, the Mississauga local has focused on creating a strong student-athlete community and has been an advocate for teams that are less well-known on campus. Outside of her VLC commitment, the kinesiology student is also an Executive Member of MAC Athletes Care which creates and supports community and social initiatives. She also gives back as a strength and conditioning student coach and McMaster High Performance's first-ever female Strength and Conditioning Internship Coach. Beyond that, the veteran guard is a Kinesiology Welcome Week Rep and Archway Mentor, a member of the Events Staff and has done some work as a Sports Media Assistant.
Soriano will represent the OUA as Ontario's nominee for U SPORTS Sylvia Sweeney - Community Service Award. Winners will be announced at the U SPORTS Championship Awards Gala in Sydney, N.S. on Mar. 8.
The Marauders will now face the Carleton Ravens in an OUA semifinal contest. Tip-off is set for 6pm on Wednesday March 1st in Ottawa. The winner will secure a spot in the Critelli Cup Final and have punched their ticket to the 2023 U SPORTS Women's Basketball Championship, hosted by the CBU Capers.
For the latest news and updates on the McMaster Marauders, follow @mcmastersports on social media or visit www.marauders.ca.
