GUELPH, Ont. - The Laurier Golden Hawks were held in check by a disciplined Guelph Gryphons squad for the second time this season, falling 63-49 on Wednesday night at the Guelph Gryphons Athletics Centre.
Laurier showed early energy but Guelph responded by tightening defensively and controlling the tempo. The Gryphons outscored Laurier 19-11 in the opening quarter, forcing contested looks and limiting the Hawks to 5-of-18 shooting.
Guelph continued to dictate play in the second quarter, capitalizing on stops and second-chance opportunities to extend the lead. Laurier struggled to find rhythm against the Gryphons' half-court defence, shooting just 38.5 per cent in the frame, while Guelph built a 39-25 advantage at halftime.
The Hawks battled through a difficult third quarter offensively, managing just six points on 2-of-14 shooting as Guelph maintained control on both ends. Despite Laurier generating defensive pressure and pushing in transition, the Gryphons entered the fourth quarter ahead 48-31.
Laurier made its strongest push in the final frame, outscoring Guelph 18-15. Kate White led the charge with her activity on the glass and defensive effort, finishing with 12 points and five assists, while Graves added 10 points.
Maya Fuerth provided a spark off the bench, scoring nine points on 3-of-5 shooting, including a three-pointer off a White assist, and Alexa Burtenshaw added a triple late to keep the Hawks within reach.
Guelph answered each surge, led by Hannah Bourdon, who scored a game-high 20 points, including four three-pointers, and added 11 rebounds.
The Gryphons also held a 52-41 edge on the glass and converted 24 points off turnovers to help close out the game.
The result mirrored the teams' first meeting of the season, a 64-55 Guelph victory in Waterloo. Laurier shot 30.6 per cent from the field and 21.7 per cent from three-point range, while Guelph doubled the Hawks' three-point output and maintained a double-digit lead for most of the contest.
Up next:
The Golden Hawks (4-11) visit the Waterloo Warriors (7-8) for a Battle of Waterloo match-up on Saturday, Jan. 24. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. and can be streamed live on OUA.tv
