With former players and a past head coach in attendance for the alumni tipoff, Laurier struggled to establish offensive rhythm against Brock's sustained defensive pressure and efficient scoring attack.

Brock opened the game on a 17-2 run after Brittyn Graves, capitalizing on forced turnovers and transition opportunities to take a 17-4 lead after the first quarter. The Golden Hawks shot just 2-of-13 from the field in the opening frame and were held scoreless from three-point range (0-for-8), while Brock converted 6-of-23 attempts and went a perfect 4-for-4 from the free-throw line.

"We had work dips, and for me, that's not acceptable for us to have an up and down work ethic," said Laurier head coach Megan Reid. "We've always been a team that battles and is physical and tough. We had moments, but we couldn't string those together."

The Badgers maintained control in the second quarter, though Laurier showed signs of life offensively. Keira Aikman and Kate White connected on three-pointers as part of a 14-point quarter for the Golden Hawks, but Brock responded with efficient shooting of its own, going 6-of-13 from the floor to carry a 32-18 lead into halftime.

Rebounding and second-chance opportunities also tilted the floor. Brock held a 42-26 advantage on the glass, including a 10-8 edge in offensive rebounds that translated into 13 second-chance points. Laurier managed just five.

"We had one offensive board in the first quarter, and that was not okay," Reid said. "It's not enough to disrupt and then give up a board. We've got to be better on box outs and more physical."

Out of the break, Laurier delivered its most efficient quarter of the night, shooting 6-of-15 (40 per cent) in the third. Aikman attacked the rim and finished with a team-high 16 points on 6-of-13 shooting, while adding seven rebounds. Kayleigh Rawson provided a spark off the bench with seven points and six rebounds, and Graves contributed eight points.

Laurier trimmed the deficit to 13 midway through the third, but Brock answered behind the interior presence of Madalyn Weinert. The forward finished with a game-high 22 points on 9-of-15 shooting to go along with 13 rebounds, five of them offensive. Shailah Adams added 20 points, knocking down 4-of-6 from beyond the arc, as Brock carried a 54-34 lead into the final quarter.

The Badgers put the game out of reach in the fourth, shooting 9-of-14 (64.3 per cent) from the field and 3-of-4 from three-point range in the frame. 

"I think we had a slow start, but we definitely came through and played as a team," said Aikman. "We struggled with offence, but our defence was really good. We had our goals of shutting certain people down, and I think we adapted well defensively."

Kate White added six points and four steals for Laurier, while Isabella Cotton dished out a team-high four assists. The Golden Hawks were limited to 4-of-28 shooting from three-point range (14.3 per cent) and 7-of-16 from the free-throw line.

The Golden Hawks (5-16) wrap up the regular season Saturday on Senior Night against the York Lions (11-10) at the Laurier Athletic Complex. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. and tickets are available at tickets.laurierathletics.com or catch the action live on OUA.tv