The McMaster Marauders headed to Bob Davis Gymnasium this Wednesday after clinching a spot in the OUA playoffs, taking on the Brock Badgers in what turned into a competitive road battle that kept fans on the edge of their seats. Despite only having a few days to take on the Badgers, Head Coach Isabel Ormond went into her first playoff game with McMaster, understanding the challenge of "Beating a good team three times, prioritizing focusing on putting up consistent shots and adjusting the team's game on the fly." McMaster came out confident, with Carly McBain (Guelph, Ont.) opening the score with a three off a clean assist from Tayler Scott (Burlington, Ont.), setting the tone early. Emily Frankovic (Thornhill, Ont.) followed with a strong finish inside the paint, while McBain stayed active on the glass with a putback to keep momentum on the Marauders' side. Scott attacked downhill for a layup, and A'mya Rawlins-Thomas (Ajax, Ont.) added a tough finish. Even as Brock responded with a late push, McMaster kept it tight, trailing just 23–26 after the first quarter.

The defensive energy picked up early on through this quarter. McBain came up with a steal that led to a layup by Teja McCormick (Toronto, Ont.), and Frankovic followed moments after, knocking down a timely three to bring the Marauders within one possession. Scott made her presence felt with a big block and steady play on both ends, while Rawlins-Thomas added another steal late in the half. McMaster kept fighting through consistent contact and pressure, but Brock edged ahead going into halftime, 35–40.

The Marauders refused to let victory slip away. Scott swatted another shot, showing her dominance on the court. Frankovic and McBain were calm at the line, scoring key free throws to close in on the gap created by the Badgers, and Sophia Urosevic (Kitchener, Ont.) hit a jumper to keep the game within reach. Back-to-back defensive plays from Rawlins-Thomas and McBain gave McMaster a better chance, but the Badgers maintained a slim advantage. After the third quarter, the Marauders trailed 43–46.

Ammendolia hit a huge three to spark the bench into gear going into the final quarter, and McBain's steal set up a Frankovic layup that brought McMaster within distance. Scott continued to attack the paint and simultaneously protect the rim with another block as the Marauders pushed late in the game. Despite the relentless effort, Brock closed it out, handing McMaster a 63–74 loss in a hard-fought playoff season-ending game. In Ormond's message to the team post-game, she looked back on the growth the Marauders showcased throughout the season, "I am super proud of the year, although this is a hard end. Going on a 5-game win streak to make it to the playoffs is earned and a major moment for the team. The main takeaway is looking towards preparing for the offseason and the years to come." Loss aside, the team's resilience was evident throughout the game, inspiring everyone to look forward to next season, as the Marauders always come back stronger.