Hamilton, Ont. — Twas' a quiet weekend in Hamilton, but a busy weekend for the Marauders as twelve teams were in action across Canada. Our women's curling team brought home silver, while the men's and women's wrestling teams earned bronze medals.

Women's Basketball
February 4 - W: 68-66 vs Laurier | Box Score
February 6 - W: 85-40 vs Algoma | Box Score

Men's Basketball
February 4 - L: 82-103 vs Laurier | Box Score
February 6 - W: 97-73 vs Algoma | Box Score

Women's Volleyball
February 6 - W: 3-0 (25-14, 25-21, 25-18) vs Windsor | Box Score
February 7 - W: 3-1 (25-18, 25-23, 25-27, 25-11) vs Windsor | Box Score

Men's Volleyball
February 6 - L: 0-3 (16-25, 19-25, 22-25) vs Windsor | Box Score
February 7 - L: 0-3 (22-25, 21-25, 16-25) vs Windsor | Box Score

Wrestling
February 7 - OUA Championships, London, Ont. | Results

Track
February 6-8 - Windsor Team Challenge, Windsor, Ont. | Results

Curling
February 6-8 - OUA Championships, Welland, Ont. | Results

Squash
February 6-8 - OUA Championships, St. Catherine's, Ont | Results

Nordic Skiing
February 6-8 - Nordic Easterns (OCUP #4), Gatineau, Que. | Results

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Women's Basketball
February 4 - W: 68-66 vs Laurier | Box Score

On a night celebrating National Girls & Women in Sports Day, Senior Night, and Black History Month, the McMaster Marauders took a well-deserved win against the Laurier Goldenhawks at Burridge Gymnasium. McMaster weathered an early deficit before finding their rhythm. Emily Frankovic (Thornhill, Ont.) set the tone inside with a strong response at the rim, while Carly McBain (Guelph, Ont.) sparked the offence with a timely three to push the Marauders ahead. Sophia Urosevic (Kitchener, Ont.) caught fire from deep late in the quarter, and another bucket from Emily Frankovic (Thornhill, Ont.) helped McMaster close the opening frame with momentum, leading 13–23.

The Marauders built on that energy right away. McBain attacked early, and Grace Ammendolia (Hamilton, Ont.) stretched the floor with back-to-back threes as McMaster opened up a double-digit cushion. Defensive pressure led to steals and fast-break finishes, with Frankovic battling through contact in the paint. McMaster controlled the pace through the quarter and headed into halftime with a confident 31–43 lead.
Laurier pushed back after the break, but McMaster answered. McBain knocked down another three, and Ammendolia continued to deliver offensively as the Goldenhawks closed the gap. Key defensive stops, including a big block from A'mya Rawlins-Thomas (Ajax, Ont.), helped steady the Marauders, while Frankovic finished strong to keep McMaster ahead 53–59 after three.

The final frame was tense. Urosevic anchored the defence with a clutch block, while Frankovic took over offensively with back-to-back scores and a huge three. Izzy Moro (Hamilton, Ont.) added a key finish as the crowd in Burridge held their breath. McMaster closed out a thrilling 68–66 win, sending the crowd into a roar.

February 6 - W: 85-40 vs Algoma | Box Score

The McMaster Marauders took control of the court on Friday against the Algoma Thunderbirds at the George Leach Centre. Jordan Denkers (Hamilton, Ont.) opened the scoring inside, while Carly McBain (Guelph, Ont.) added a three to spark the offence. Active defence from A'mya Rawlins-Thomas (Ajax, Ont.) created turnovers that turned into easy buckets, and Sophia Urosevic (Kitchener, Ont.) closed the quarter shooting from deep. The Marauders' offensive pressure paid off early, ending the first quarter up 24–9.

The Marauders kept their foot on the gas in the second, using strong ball movement to widen the gap. Izzy Moro (Hamilton, Ont.) was relentless in the paint, converting key putback shots. Grace Ammendolia (Hamilton, Ont.) and Teja McCormick (Toronto, Ont.) added timely finishes to maintain momentum. McMaster's defence continued to disrupt Algoma's rhythm, sending the Marauders into halftime comfortably ahead 46–27.

McMaster came out sharp after the break, forcing continuous turnovers. McBain knocked down another three, and Urosevic stayed aggressive offensively as the Marauders pushed the pace. The sustained run put the game firmly out of reach, with McMaster closing the third quarter in control at 66–36.

With a comfortable lead, McMaster stayed composed and closed out the game efficiently. Denkers finished strong inside, Moro remained steady on both ends, and the Marauders continued to defend and share the ball until the final buzzer, sealing an impressive 85–40 win.

Men's Basketball
February 4 - L: 82-103 vs Laurier | Box Score

Wednesday night, the McMaster Marauders celebrated National Girls & Women in Sports Day, Senior Night, and Black History Month in a game against the Algoma Thunderbirds that ended in an upset for McMaster. McMaster came out with pace senior, Ares Culley-Bremner (Hamilton, Ont.), finished quickly at the rim to get the Marauders on the board. Tyler Garcia (Mississauga, Ont.) showed off his handles with a clean fake and finish, while Culley-Bremner continued to battle inside the paint to keep the gap manageable. Jeremiah Francis (Surrey, B.C.) knocked down a deep three and added a strong finish late, but Laurier controlled most of the opening stretch. McMaster stayed composed despite the pressure and closed the quarter trailing 14–23.

The Marauders found their groove offensively. Riley Bleich (Fonthill, Ont.) opened the quarter with a three, followed by another long ball from Jack McMahan (Burlington, Ont.) as McMaster started to chip away. A big steal from Garcia led to an easy finish, and Bleich attacked the glass to force a Laurier timeout. Culley-Bremner fought through traffic for two, while Francis and Bleich continued to score from all levels. McMaster carried strong momentum into the break, down 38–55.

McMaster leaned on Riaz Saliu (Oshawa, Ont.) early, who scored repeatedly in the paint to keep the Marauders pushing. Bleich stayed aggressive, putting back a powerful dunk, refusing to let the game slip away. Outside shooting from Francis and Garcia helped, but Laurier stretched the lead as the quarter went on. The Marauders entered the fourth trailing 63–82.

Still pressing, James Kelly (Toronto, Ont.) and Culley-Bremner opened the final frame with strong finishes, and Francis continued his impressive shooting from deep. Bleich added another layup to hit the 20-point mark, and Kelly drained a late three as McMaster made one final push. The comeback fell short, with the Marauders closing the night at 82–103.

February 6 - W: 97-73 vs Algoma | Box Score

The McMaster Marauders set the tone early against the Algoma Thunderbirds at the George Leach Centre on Friday night, opening the game with back-to-back layups from Ares Culley-Bremner (Hamilton, Ont.), both set up by Riaz Saliu (Oshawa, Ont.) and Jeremiah Francis (Surrey, B.C.). Francis added two free throws and later knocked down a three to end a strong opening stretch, as the Marauders began with a lead and finished the first quarter up 22–19.

The second quarter saw McMaster build momentum on both ends. Jack McMahan (Burlington, Ont.) sparked the offence with a three-pointer, James Kelly (Toronto, Ont.) finished strong in transition with a dunk, and Culley-Bremner continued to attack the rim. Strong defensive play and active rebounding allowed the Marauders to pull away, heading into halftime with a 45–35 lead.

Coming out of the break, McMaster stayed strong as Algoma tried to close the gap. Saliu hit a key three, McMahan added another from deep, and Francis continued to score inside while helping control the energy on the court. The Marauders maintained separation through the third, entering the final quarter ahead 69–59.

In the fourth quarter, McMaster closed the door. Kelly and Francis combined for multiple finishes at the rim, while the Marauders' defence forced turnovers and limited second chances. McMaster steadily extended the lead and finished the night with a well-deserved 97–73 win.
 
Women's Volleyball
February 6 - W: 3-0 (25-14, 25-21, 25-18) vs Windsor | Box Score

The McMaster Marauders (13-5) clinched a playoff spot with a straight-sets win over the Windsor Lancers (13-5) on Friday night at the Toldo Lancer Centre. 

McMaster set the tone early in the opening frame, building momentum behind a Lucie Shaver (Surrey, B.C.) kill. After a brief stretch of back-and-forth play, the Marauders pulled away and closed the set 25-14 on an Abby Delamere (Toronto, Ont.) kill. The second set was more competitive, with Windsor keeping the score tight, but McMaster remained in control. 

Olivia Julien (Toronto, Ont.) led the Marauder push, recording three kills down the stretch to secure the set 25-21. The Marauders maintained control in the third set. An ace from Maddy Lutes (Barrie, Ont.) helped extend the lead, and Shaver finished the match with a kill to complete the sweep 25-18.

February 7 - W: 3-1 (25-18, 25-23, 25-27, 25-11) vs Windsor | Box Score

The McMaster Marauders closed out the weekend with a 3-1 victory over the Windsor Lancers on Saturday afternoon. 

The opening set featured tight, back-and-forth play before McMaster gained separation. Olivia Julien (Toronto, Ont.) helped spark the offence, while Maddy Lutes (Barrie, Ont.) delivered key kills throughout the frame. Three Julien aces helped the Marauders pull away for a 25-18 win. The second set followed a similar pattern, with close scoring throughout the frame. McMaster remained steady defensively and regained control late, closing the set on a Lutes kill to take it 25-23. 

McMaster jumped out early in the third, but Windsor responded with a late surge to steal the set 25-27 and extend the match. The Marauders reasserted themselves in the fourth, opening a decisive gap early. Abby Delamere (Toronto, Ont.) added an ace as McMaster rolled to a 25-11 win to secure the match.

Men's Volleyball
February 6 - L: 0-3 (16-25, 19-25, 22-25) vs Windsor | Box Score

The McMaster Marauders (5-13) dropped a 3-0 decision to the Windsor Lancers (18-3) on Friday night at the Toldo Lancer Centre. 

Windsor built an early advantage in the opening set, applying pressure defensively. Ashton Fox-Kristensen (Elora, Ont.) and Kaden Zunti (Burlington, Ont.) recorded early kills for McMaster, but the Lancers maintained control to take the set 25-16. 

The second set remained competitive early, with Matthias Cooper (Hamilton, Ont.) opening the scoring for the Marauders. McMaster found offensive success throughout, but Windsor controlled the pace late in the set to secure the 25-19. The third set featured extended rallies and tight scoring throughout. 

Jason Heidbuurt (Hamilton, Ont.) and Mekhi Fitzgerald (Milton, Ont.) each delivered aces, while Seth O'Brien (Kingston, Ont.) added kills as McMaster pushed late. Windsor held on in the closing points to complete the sweep 25-22.

February 7 - L: 0-3 (22-25, 21-25, 16-25) vs Windsor | Box Score

The McMaster Marauders fell 3-0 to the hosting Windsor Lancers on Saturday afternoon. 

Windsor took control early in the opening set before McMaster pushed back. Mekhi Fitzgerald (Milton, Ont.) recorded an ace, and Jason Heidbuurt (Hamilton, Ont.) contributed late points as the Marauders closed the gap, but the Lancers held on for the 25-22 win. McMaster carried momentum into the second set, with early aces from Matthias Cooper (Hamilton, Ont.) and Fitzgerald helping the Marauders build an early lead. Cooper later added another ace to tie the score 11-11, but Windsor regained control down the stretch to take the set 25-21. 

The third set followed a similar pattern. Fitzgerald recorded his third ace of the match to keep the score close early, but Windsor pulled away midway through the frame to secure the sweep with a 25-16 victory.

Wrestling
February 7 - OUA Championships, London, Ont. | Results

Men:

McMaster earned the bronze medal at the OUA Men's Wrestling Championships this weekend at Western University, finishing with 56 team points behind Brock (79) and Western (59). The Marauders were propelled by two individual champions and several podium performances in a strong overall showing.

Omogbai Asekohme captured gold in the 100 kg division with a dominant run, highlighted by an 18-7 victory over Brock's Callum Knox in the final. Blayne Helou matched that performance at 61 kg, going unscored upon all tournament while recording four straight 10-0 technical falls to claim the title.

Luken Lawson delivered a silver-medal finish at 76 kg after winning four matches to reach the championship bout. Sarpartap Lally (82 kg) and Gianluca Fortino (65 kg) each secured bronze, adding critical points to the team total. Chanjot Kang placed second at 125 kg, while Kamrin Marotta and Armaan Jawandha rounded out the scoring.

The podium finish highlights McMaster's depth and momentum as the Marauders continue their championship season.

Women:

The McMaster Marauders earned bronze at the OUA Women's Wrestling Championships, finishing with 52 points behind champion Brock University (78) and Western (56). The result capped a strong showing driven by three individual titles and key placement finishes.
Serena Di Benedetto (53kg), Macy Malysiak (59kg), and Natalie Vecchio (76kg) led the way with gold-medal performances. Di Benedetto secured the championship with a dominant 10-0 technical superiority victory, while Malysiak completed one of the tournament's most commanding runs without surrendering a point in her final three matches. Vecchio added another title with a composed 6-0 decision in the final.
Olivia Lichti earned silver at 62kg after powering into the championship bout with three technical victories. Tehani Blais captured bronze in the 72kg division, while Mayumi King (4th), Juliana Skaljin (5th), and Sylvia Rosenberger (6th) contributed valuable team points.
With three gold medals and scoring across multiple weight classes, McMaster demonstrated the depth required to stand among the OUA's top programs.

Track
February 6-8 - Windsor Team Challenge, Windsor, Ont. | Results

The Marauders had an impressive performance at the Windsor Team Challenge this weekend in Windsor, Ontario. The men's team started off strong on Friday, sweeping the podium and claiming the top six spots in the 3000m event with Samuel Patrick (Guelph, ON) putting in a dominant performance finishing first in 8:12.83, Austin McGoey (Whitby, ON) placed second, with Ryan Davies (Sarnia, ON) in third, followed by Noah Patterson (Toronto, ON), Noah Nagy (Newmarket, ON), and Isak Fransson (Hamilton, ON), rounding out the top six. In the women's 3000m event, the Marauders had two top six finishers with Sophie Trott (Ottawa, ON) finishing fourth in 10:01.40 and Mikayla Battams (Tottenham, ON) placing sixth. The Marauder women also capped off day one taking fifth and tenth place in the 4 x 800m relay event. 

McMaster carried their momentum through to day two, opening with the 1000m event where, on the Women's side, Florina Keller (Hamilton, ON) finished 6th in 2:56.00 and on the Men's side Tristan Bouius (Hanover, ON) finished 5th in 2:27.54. The Marauder women ended the weekend on top of the podium in the 1500m event with Olivia Macaskill (Kanata, ON) taking gold in 4:28.44 and Ana Morariu (Kincardine, ON) taking silver in 4:28.59. The men also took the top two positions in the 1500m event with Iain Thomson (Dundas, ON) placing first in a time of 3:56.61 and Sam Richter (Port Sydney, ON) securing a second place finish in 3:58.26.

Top McMaster finishers:
Men's 600m: Matthew Ponikvar, 24th
Men's 1000m: Tristan Bouius, 5th 
Men's 1500m: Iain Thomson, 1st
Men's 3000m: Samuel Patrick, 1st

Women's 1000m: Florina Keller, 6th
Women's 1500m: Olivia Macaskill, 1st
Women's 3000m: Sophie Trott, 4th
Women's 4x800m relay: Olivia Macaskill, Ana Morariu, Florina Keller, Ella Madsen, 5th

Curling
February 6-8 - OUA Championships, Welland, Ont. | Results

Men

The Marauder men opened the event with a narrow 7–6 win over Laurentian before suffering a tough 9–8 setback to York in one of the closest matches of the round robin. McMaster quickly rebounded with a dominant 10–2 victory against Ontario Tech, displaying strong communication and precise shot selection throughout the draw. Later in the day, the Marauders delivered another statement result, defeating Toronto 10–2 to remain in the playoff hunt.

Despite multiple double-digit wins, the men were edged out of the medal round in a tightly contested standings race. The results reflect a group capable of generating offense while staying composed in pressure moments, a promising sign for the continued trajectory of the program.

Women

On the women's side, McMaster assembled a remarkable run to the podium. After a narrow 6–5 loss to Queen's to open the championship, the Marauders responded with a 6–3 win over Laurentian and a commanding 10–2 victory against Toronto to secure their place in the playoffs.

The momentum carried into the elimination rounds, where McMaster edged Laurier 6–5 in the quarterfinal before grinding out a thrilling 5–4 semifinal win over Trent.

In the gold medal game, the Marauders battled Guelph shot for shot but ultimately claimed silver following a hard-fought 6–4 final. With the result, McMaster advances to the U SPORTS National Championship next week in Regina, an opportunity to compete for a national title and cap off an already outstanding season.

Squash
February 6-8 - OUA Championships, St. Catherine's, Ont | Results

Men

McMaster delivered a competitive showing at the OUA Squash Championships, finishing fifth overall with a 3–2 record while posting 14 individual match wins and 51 games won across the tournament.  The Marauders opened with a strong 5–2 victory over Guelph before facing tough losses to Western and Toronto in the championship bracket. 

The team responded with resilience in the consolation round, edging Ottawa 4–3 and defeating Brock by the same scoreline to secure fifth place.  Arham Izhar led the way for McMaster, earning Rookie of the Year honours and a tournament all-star selection while finishing the event with a 3–2 match record and a 63 percent games-win rate.  Head coach Mostafa Khoobyari was also recognized for his leadership, taking home Coach of the Year accolades. 

Despite early setbacks, McMaster demonstrated depth and determination throughout the weekend, closing the championship on a high note with back-to-back team victories and valuable experience against some of the province's top programs.

Women

McMaster delivered a competitive showing at the OUA Squash Championships, finishing sixth overall with a 2-3 record while capturing 11 individual match victories, 39 games won, and 756 total points across the tournament.  Despite facing several top-ranked programs, the Marauders demonstrated resilience throughout the weekend, highlighted by strong performances in both the main draw and consolation rounds.

The women's squad opened with an impressive 5-2 victory over Ottawa before advancing to the consolation semifinal, where they swept Brock 5-0 to remain in contention for fifth place.  McMaster ultimately fell to Guelph in the fifth-place match, but not before Sofia Quon delivered a standout tournament, earning All-Star recognition for her efforts at the top of the ladder. 

Individually, Quon posted a 3-2 record, while Isabelle Browne finished 2-1, contributing key points for the Marauders throughout the event.  The championship provided valuable experience against elite competition and showcased the program's depth as McMaster continues to build toward future success.

Nordic Skiing
February 6-8 - Nordic Easterns (OCUP #4), Gatineau, Que. | Results

McMaster's nordic skiing team delivered a determined performance at the O Cup last weekend, highlighted by several athletes completing the demanding mass start classic races against a deep field of collegiate and club competitors.

In the women's 10km classic, Ingrid Pedersen led the Marauders with a 29th-place finish in a time of 38:56.8, showcasing strong endurance over the two-lap course. Teammate Kira Young followed closely behind, placing 30th with a time of 39:01.6, giving McMaster back-to-back finishes inside the top 30. 

Sophie Williams added another solid result, crossing the line in 42:03.1 to finish 46th overall. Aliyah Shaw rounded out the Marauders' scorers, placing 53rd with a time of 46:33.7. 

On the men's side, Evan Taggart represented McMaster in the open race, finishing 95th with a time of 45:40.2 in a large and competitive field. 
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Upcoming Events (Feb 2 - Feb 8)

Feb 10
Brock Invitational Figure Skating, Thorold, Ont.

Feb 11
Brock Invitational Figure Skating, Thorold, Ont.
6:00 PM: Women's Basketball @ Waterloo
8:00 PM: Men's Basketball @ Waterloo

Feb 13
6:00 PM: Women's Volleyball vs Trent | Tickets
8:00 PM: Men's Volleyball vs Trent | Tickets
Hal Brown Last Chance Track, Toronto, Ont.

Feb 14
4:00 PM: Women's Volleyball vs Trent | Tickets
6:00 PM: Men's Volleyball vs Trent | Tickets
Hal Brown Last Chance Track, Toronto, Ont.

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