HAMILTON, Ont. — The McMaster Marauders (4-0-0) defeated the Lakehead Thunderwolves (1-3-0) in their weekend series in Thunder Bay, Ont. The Marauders improved to 4-0 and are playing very determined basketball in the early going.

Game one vs Lakehead (11-01-24)

In game one, the Marauders controlled play early. Emily Frankovich (Thornhill, Ont.) drove to the net and scored on a layup and then stole the ball back, which set up Amy Stinson's (Hamilton, Ont.) bucket. The Marauders continued the pressure as they earned a 12-0 lead. Lakehead would score two buckets before McMaster went on a 12-4 run to end the quarter. The Marauders led 24-8 at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter did not go the Marauders way early on. A'Mya Rawlins-Thomas (Ajax, Ont.) ended an 18-0 run from the Thunderwolves to start the quarter and the score was tied at 26. Once Lakehead took a five-point lead, buckets from Stinson and second-year Marauder, Sophia Urosevic (Kitchener, Ont.), put the Marauders within one. Frankovich connected on a late layup, which kept the Marauders within striking distance at half as McMaster was down by five.

Deanna Mataseje (Ancaster, Ont.) earned a steal-and-score, showing off her anticipation skills before driving in for a layup score. Stinson followed suit with another steal-and-score which brought the Marauders within one. Cassie Coli-Joeur (Johnstown, Ont.) hit free throws which put the Marauders in the lead. Jordan Denkers (Hamilton, Ont.) scored off a wonderful Mataseje pass, one of her five assists on the night.  Stinson added eight points in the final three minutes and the Marauders took a nine-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Stinson nailed a triple, and the Marauders took over the game as they went on a 15-point run. Frankovich and Denkers hit multiple shots down the stretch and the Marauders pulled away with the game and earned an 81-54 win.

Game two vs Lakehead (11-02-24)

On Saturday, Deanna Mataseje (Ancaster, Ont.) recorded McMaster's first points in the midst of an 11-2 run for the Thunderwolves. Sophia Urosevic (Kitchener, Ont.) hit two straight shots to cut into Lakehead's lead. The teams traded points and the Marauders headed into the second quarter down eight.

Stinson would first get on the board for the Marauders in the quarter. Grace Ammendolia (Hamilton, Ont.) completed a steal-and-score, which brought the maroon within six. Delaney Bourget (Sudbury, Ont.) connected on a triple assisted by Mataseje. Cassie Coli-Joeur (Johnstown, Ont.) ended an 11-2 run for the Thunderwolves. The Marauders were down by seven at half.

Denkers scored a layup, getting the Marauders on the board in the third quarter. Mataseje scored on another steal-and-score. The Marauders were down by six midway through the quarter. Frankovich nailed a jumper and Coli-Joeur added seven points on free throws and a completed layup. The quarter ended with the Marauders down by one.

Mataseje and Denkers scored on back-to-back steal-and-score plays with layup finishes. Frankovich nailed a jump shot off an assist from Mataseje. Mataseje hit a big shot off an assist from Denkers. Lakehead tied the game with a minute left. Both teams would miss opportunities to win the game setting up a dramatic overtime.

Joli-Coeur and Frankovich were instrumental in the Marauders offense in overtime, each recording five points. With just over a minute, Stinson made a clutch steal.
Frankovich connected on her biggest point of the night as she hit one of her two free throws which brought the Marauders lead to two. The Thunderwolves only managed one point and the Marauders escaped with the 67-66 win.

Next up, the maroon take on the Western Mustangs (1-3-0) as they visit London on Friday at 6pm.