THE LOW-DOWN
For the second consecutive year, the Golden Hawks are back in the OUA playoffs.

Despite closing the season on a three-game slide, the Golden Hawks clinched the 11th seed and head to the Royal City on Wednesday, February 19, for a first round playoff match-up against the sixth seed Guelph Gryphons.

The winner is set to play the Windsor Lancers in the OUA quarterfinals.
 
HEAD-TO-HEAD
This will be the third contest between the teams in a three week span, splitting their home-and-home series earlier this month.
 
In the first match where Laurier played visitor, the Golden Hawks won 63-52, their 22 point third quarter lifting them over the top. While the Gryphons had an abysmal shooting night on their home court, they struck back three days later with a 72-63 win.
 
In the last 10 games between the Golden Hawks and Gryphons, dating back to the 2019-2020 season, Laurier is 3-7.
 
Going into the game, the Gryphons have a slight advantage over the Golden Hawks on paper. Guelph is fifth in points per game to Laurier at ninth, fifth in field goal percentage to Laurier's eighth, fourth in three-point percentage to Laurier at ninth, and seventh in total rebounds per game to Laurier at 11th. But games are not decided on paper, and these teams have an intense rivalry that is expected to ramp up with the quarterfinals on the line.
 
WEDNESDAY STORYLINES
Laurier Golden Hawks
After not qualifying in both 2021-2022 and 2022-2023, the Golden Hawks are back on track making back-to-back postseason appearances. However, they must get the monkey off their backs as they are 0-4 in the first round dating back to the 2017-2018 season.
 
There is room for hope, though. Despite bowing out last year in the opening round, the Golden Hawks took the McMaster Marauders down to the wire and had big time performances from their top players. The Golden Hawks have also had a majority of their team return this season, and are no doubt hungry to advance to the quarterfinals.
 
The Golden Hawks have seen plenty of the Gryphons in February, but the teams have not met in the playoffs since consecutive meetings in 2010-2011 and 2011-2012, where the Golden Hawks won both games.
 
Guelph Gryphons
Along with their 16-6 record this year, the Gryphons are on a three-game first round winning streak, those wins occurring on their home court.
 
The Gryphons have been dominant at home this year as well going 10-2. However, one of those losses came at the hands of the Golden Hawks in their 63-52 loss, where the 52 points the Gryphons put up was their lowest total this season.
 
Since head coach Megan Reid took over in the 2022-2023 season, the Gryphons have made the quarterfinals both years, and are looking to continue that trend in Reid's third year behind the bench.
 
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Laurier Golden Hawks
#10 – Kate White and #7 – Cassidy Hirtle
White has been a force this season for the purple and gold, ranking eighth in the OUA in points per game with 14.5 and fifth in three-point percentage. In the home-and-home against the Gryphons, White recorded back-to-back double-doubles, totalling 32 points and 24 rebounds. She has five double-doubles on the season, with four coming in the last six games.
 
Hirtle, on the other hand, averaged 12.3 points per game and had herself a great outing in the second match-up against the Gryphons with 21 points, four rebounds, and three assists. She is a steady shooter at 30.1% from the field, and her ability to lock in on defense has given her 23 steals.
 
Guelph Gryphons
#14 – Hannah Bourdon and #4 – Renee Armstrong
Against the Golden Hawks this season, Bourdon scored in the double digits in both games, tallying a double-double in the second match with 19 points and 11 rebounds. She is averaging 12.7 points per game and is ninth in total rebounds in the OUA.
 
Armstrong may have been limited on offence in the first match against Laurier, but had a season high five steals. She was a much bigger factor in the second game with 23 points, seven rebounds, four steals, and five assists. She averages 11.8 points per game and sits fifth in the OUA in assists.
 
WHERE TO WATCH
Cheer on your Golden Hawks by watching live on OUA.tv with tip-off set for 6pm.