THUNDER BAY, Ont. - Laurier's women's basketball took a long trip to Thunder Bay to take on the Lakehead Thunderwolves Saturday night. Coming off a tough loss to #9 Guelph in their last game, the Golden Hawks bounced back with their best defensive game of the season in a 65-42 win. It was the second victory of the season for Laurier and first on the road.

Laurier started strong in the first quarter, out-scoring Lakehead 20-14 while forcing them to shoot just 26 percent from the field. Janet Rose was a perfect 3 for 3 from the field and scored eight points in the frame to pace the team. 

The scoring pace slowed in the second, with each team recording just eleven points. After the first half of play, Laurier still held a 31-25 lead.

Laurier continued to play well in the second half trying to maintain and grow this six-point lead. The third quarter previewed Lakehead's continued struggles from the field, propelling Laurier to an eight-point lead into the fourth. 

Despite shooting just 37% for the game, Laurier was really able to lock down defensively, forcing poor shots from the Thunderwolves to stifle them at only 21% shooting. 

Laurier broke open the lead in the fourth quarter with scoring led by Cassidy Hirtle and rookie Brittyn Graves, with each scoring seven in the quarter. 

In a season-high 25 minutes, Graves finished with nine points, a career-high five assists, and four rebounds. She now sits third on the team in points per game (7.2) and assists per game (1.4).

As the team out-scored Lakehead 20-5 in the final frame, Laurier also dominated on the glass, finishing with 47 rebounds to Lakehead's 31. 

The 42 points against was the lowest total allowed by the Golden Hawks this season.

TOP PERFORMERS
Laurier Golden Hawks 
Cassidy Hirtle
Hirtle led the Golden Hawks with 19 points, three rebounds and two steals. While there was a slight struggle from beyond the arch, Cassidy shot 7-16 in the game.

Lakehead Thunderwolves
Tiffany Reynolds
Reynolds put up a solid performance for Lakehead, sitting one rebound away from an 11-point double-double. 

UP NEXT
Laurier (2-4) returns home to face the undefeated #6 Queen's Gaels (6-0) on Friday, November 25 at 6 PM. Tickets are on sale now. 

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