The McMaster Marauders women's basketball team hosted the Laurier Golden Hawks in the OUA First Round Playoffs, where they found a second half flow to push past the Hawks, 72-71.
The last face off of the teams was Laurier's home opener in November 2023, where the McMaster Marauders took the game 80-75. Since then, the Golden Hawks have continued to a 13-9 conference record. For the Hawks, home court advantage reins strong with a record of 9-2, while on the Road the team holds 4-7. Where as the Marauders have found 7-4 at home and 8-3 away.
Finding speed from the start, the Golden Hawks found a first quarter surge through a 13 point lead early on. In the first few minutes the Marauders were having landing trouble, but nonetheless continued sending shots up. Eventually the Marauders climatized and ran 8 points back, to start closing the gap.
By the second quarter, the fans brought a new energy. With the Marauders finding 4 steals and 5 blocks in the quarter, the playoff intensity was coming out. Cassie Joli-Coeur had a tall quarter adding 9 points. In the dwindling minutes of the quarter the Marauders kicked it a notch higher and went on a run, to clear the quarter outscoring Laurier 21-16. A score check after the first two quarters read 39-37.
Stealing the Hawks first quarter playbook, the Marauders opened the quarter quickly. In under a minute, Joli-Coeur who landed the jump shot, and then again Joli-Coeur who did it again, following a Button defensive rebound. The second bucket brought the team their first lead of the game. The lead then was exchanged five times, but the Hawks started feeling extra pressure to resuscitate. The third was also the lowest scoring quarter for both contenders, with 14 a piece.
In her OUA Playoff debut, Ashley Guerriero stepped up to the plate a handful of times to neutralize or bring the Marauders on top this evening. Midway through the final period, Guerriero knocked down a three, and then served an assist to Emily Frankovic who downed another three to bring the Marauders their first lead in 6 minutes of game - spread through the end of the third and the start of the fourth.
Joli-Coeur made a clutch layup with 2 minutes to go, tying the teams at 69 all. Following the Golden Hawk's missed layup, Stinson rebounded and found a massive three to give the Marauders the lead into the last few possessions. The Hawks made a jump shot, which still found them down by 1, with 6 seconds left. The Marauders however had two fouls left to give. They gave one, running the clock to .4 seconds, and another when the clock read 1.6 seconds remaining. With a last stitch effort and a launched air ball for the Hawks, the Marauders heard the buzzer and knew it meant advancing to the next round. The game was over and the score was in the Marauders favour, 72-71.
What's Next?
The Marauders will advance to quarterfinals on Saturday at 6pm, where they will face off against the Carleton Ravens on the road.
