WATERLOO, Ont. - The Windsor Lancers secured a thrilling 63-62 victory over the Laurier Golden Hawks in a game filled with high energy and dramatic moments, ultimately decided in the final seconds.
Both teams showcased resilience, trading leads and making pivotal plays in a tightly contested matchup that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
The Golden Hawks came out of the gate strong, establishing an early lead with efficient offensive execution.
Cassidy Hirtle contributed timely layups and jumpers to spark Laurier's offence.
Miranda Campbell added to the early dominance with a three-pointer that extended the lead to 9-2.
However, Windsor responded as Julia Chiarot drained a three-pointer, providing the Lancers a much-needed boost.
With Chiarot pacing the offence with 13 of her eventual game-high 19 points on the night in the first half, Windsor began finding their rhythm.
Laurier's balanced attack and defensive stops allowed them to hold a 21-17 advantage by the end of the quarter.
Windsor began to chip away at Laurier's lead in the second quarter, outscoring the purple and gold by five in the second frame.
On Laurier's side, the bench stepped up as Keira Aikman and Kayleigh Rawson made timely contributions, helping Laurier maintain their edge.
The Lancers headed into halftime with a slim 37-36 lead, thanks in large part to their bench outscoring Laurier's 28-11 in the opening 20 minutes. By the end of the night, it would be a 47-17 advantage for the visitors.
The intensity increased in the third quarter, with both teams exchanging baskets and defensive stops.
Campbell continued to shine for Laurier, eventually finishing in double-digits in scoring for just the fourth time this season, converting fast-break opportunities and sinking a crucial three-pointer.
Windsor countered with strong inside play from Kali Grootenboer, who fought for rebounds - eventually finishing with a game-high seven - and scored essential points in the paint.
Each team capitalized on turnovers, but Laurier stayed ahead, clinging to a 49-48 lead as the game entered the final frame.
The fourth quarter was filled with drama as Chiarot's jumper gave Windsor a brief 50-49 lead.
Laurier answered with a layup by Aikman, and the teams traded baskets in a tense finale.
With 24 seconds remaining, Harriet Carey hit a clutch three-pointer to put Windsor ahead 63-62.
Laurier had a final chance to win but missed their last shot, securing Windsor's narrow victory.
This thrilling game highlighted both teams' skill and determination, with Windsor's late-game composure proving decisive.
Laurier's manager of women's basketball operations and head coach Paul Falco was pleased with the team's performance, praising their strong defensive effort and consistent intensity throughout the game.
He noted that the team started with high energy and maintained it from start to finish.
Third-year guard Brittyn Graves, who finished with 10 points in 22 minutes of action, thought the purple and gold "worked together as a team".
"We competed hard and followed what we set out to do."
Of note, Golden Hawks fifth-year guard Cassidy Hirtle, who finished tied with a team-high 13 points with Miranda Campbell, became just the fifth student-athlete in program history to record 1,000 career points.
She trails alum Kaitlyn Schenck, who was the last to reach that benchmark in 2017, by only 12 points for the fourth-highest career total in program history.
Up Next:
The Golden Hawks (4-8) and Algoma Thunderbirds (1-10), who sit in fourth and fifth, respectively, in the OUA West, square off at the Laurier Athletic Complex Gym on Friday, January 17 and 18.
The latter of the two games is the annual Shoot for the Cure game. This season, the team is supporting Pancreatic Cancer Canada and asks fans to consider making an online donation.
Fans unable to attend can catch the game live on OUA.tv and follow @WLUAthletics on X for live updates.
