Waterloo, Ont. – This Wednesday the Golden Hawks women's basketball team welcomed the McMaster Marauders to Waterloo for their home opener. The Golden Hawks dominated during the first quarter of play but lost their way in the second and third quarters and ended up loosing the match 80-75.
In the opening quarter of the match the Golden Hawks were excited, energized and hungry for the ball. McMaster's Jenna Button opened the scoring of the match ten seconds in with a jump shot from just inside the 3 point arc. Laurier's Cassidy Hirtle then put the Golden Hawks on the score board with a lay up through contact and sunk the free throw. The Golden Hawks held onto the lead throughout the quarter and started the second with the score 24-20 over the Marauders. Hirtle put up 13 points in just 7 minutes of play.
During the second and third quarters the Golden Hawks seemed to have lost their edge. They continued to make big plays but not nearly enough to match the high turnover and low rebound rates that were seen in the second quarter.
In the third quarter the Golden Hawks began to climb back and were able to outscore the Marauders 19 to 16. Second-year forward Kate White managed to score 3 points in the second and 6 in the third, leading her team offensively in the two weaker quarters.
Beginning the fourth quarter the Marauders led 61-54 over the Golden Hawks. It's a safe assumption that all players on the court felt pressure to capture the win. Laurier's 2022 MVP Miranda Campbell put up a high score of 8 points for the Golden Hawks in the quarter, Cassidy Hirtle put up 5 points while Kate White and Dylan Mazzuchin each put up 3.
Coming into the last minute of play, McMaster led 76-73 over the Golden Hawks and tensions were high. Miranda Campbell and Janet Enge both secured baskets in offensive drives but Campbell, Kate White and Enge each received defensive fouls, with White even fouling out of the game with three seconds left in the match. This resulted in multiple free throws for the Marauders, which they made to put the game out of reach.
Despite the Golden Hawks best efforts they were unable to catch the Marauders lead and lost the game 80-75. Coach Paul Falco shared that "the team didn't play great, but we were still in the game right to the final minute. We played hard and tried to battle back which is always a positive."
TOP PERFORMERS
#7 – Cassidy Hirtle
Hirtle put up 20 points in the game and crashed the boards repeatedly, securing 6 rebounds. The fourth-year guard was a key communicator for her team on the court and made multiple big plays including end to end layups and three-point shots.
#10 – Kate White
Second-year forward Kate White spent the night making big plays, both offensively and defensively. White put up 14 points which was third highest on the Golden Hawks game sheet, as well as grabbing 7 rebounds.
UP NEXT
The Golden Hawks are on the road this Saturday, November 4Â to face off against the Windsor Lancers. Watch the game live on OUA.tv and stay updated @WLUAthletics.
