WATERLOO, Ont. — On a meaningful Shoot for the Cure night supporting melanoma awareness, the Laurier Golden Hawks delivered an energetic and resilient performance before falling 78-67 to the Windsor Lancers on Friday night at the Athletic Complex.
The opening quarter was played at a fast tempo, with both teams battling for loose balls and early positioning in the paint. Windsor capitalized on second-chance opportunities in the period, building a 25-17 lead after one.
The Golden Hawks responded in the second quarter by increasing their defensive pressure and attacking downhill. Kate White made an impact at both ends, finishing with a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Brittyn Graves brought physicality on the glass.
Laurier outscored Windsor 17-15 in the frame and matched the Lancers in fast-break points, but Windsor's efficiency inside helped it maintain a 40-34 advantage at halftime.
Laurier continued to compete with urgency after the break. Laurier's manager of women's basketball operations and head coach Megan Reid said the team's ability to sustain its effort marked a step forward.
"We showed heart, toughness and compete," Reid said. "That is the first time in a long time that we've really put that together."
The Hawks stayed aggressive offensively in the third quarter, scoring 22 points, but Windsor answered with timely baskets and control of the paint, outscoring Laurier 27-22 in the period. The Lancers also generated points off turnovers in the third to stretch their lead to 67-56 heading into the final frame.
Laurier refused to fade in the fourth. White connected on a key three-pointer, while Aikman continued to attack off the bounce, drawing fouls and creating opportunities for teammates. Aikman finished with 13 points and cut the deficit to single digits with a late three-pointer, but Windsor sealed the outcome at the free-throw line.
White led Laurier with her stat line while Graves added 15 points and eight rebounds. Aikman chipped in 13 points as the Golden Hawks matched Windsor with zero bench points and forced the Lancers to earn their offense through the starters.
For Windsor, Julia Chiarot led all scorers with 22 points, while Kali Grootenboer recorded a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Windsor finished with a 38-28 advantage in points in the paint and a 15-10 edge in second-chance points, while also holding a 9-5 advantage in points off turnovers. The lead was never tied or changed hands.
Despite the loss, Aikman said the performance reflected growth.
"It was a super tough game with a lot of mismatches," she said. "But we stayed composed, lifted each other up and kept it close enough to put pressure on them late."
Beyond the scoreboard, the night carried added significance for the program. Reid said Shoot for the Cure reflects Laurier's emphasis on fighting together, whether against opponents, personal challenges or cancer.
Aikman, whose family has been impacted by melanoma, said the support from the Laurier community was overwhelming and deeply meaningful.
Looking ahead, Reid said the standard remains unchanged.
"Every game is a new game for us," she said. "But the heart and the compete have to be there."
Up next:
The Golden Hawks (4-10) visit the #10-ranked Guelph Gryphons (13-3) on Wednesday, January 21 at the Guelph Gryphon Athletic Centre. Tip-off is set for 6 pm
