WINDSOR, Ont. - The Western Mustangs fell to 7-2 on the season, dropping a 94-81 decision to the first-place Windsor Lancers on Jan. 6 at the St. Denis Centre.

Amanda Anderson (Chatham, Ont.) led the Mustangs with 21 points in a game featuring seven lead changes and was tied at five different times in the game.

Led by the dominating play of forward Jessica Clemencon (St. Rambert, France), the Lancers, ranked No. 2 in the CIS and undefeated at 9-0 in the regular season, now sit two games ahead of the Mustangs in first place in the OUA West Division.

Three other Mustangs scored in double digits including Lauren Parkes (London, Ont.) with 17 points and seven rebounds, Kelly Moulden (Dundas, Ont.) 14 points and three assists and Rebecca Moss (Waterloo, Ont.) with 11 points.

"It was a good offensive performance and offensively there were no issues. We should win any time we put up 80 points or more," said Western Mustangs women's basketball head coach Stephan Barrie. "Defensively, it's as bad as we've played."

"We just could not box out and the lack of boxing out was what hurt us," he said. "They had 22 offensive rebounds and that was probably the biggest difference in the game. That's 22 extra possesions and easy ones sometimes for them to just put back and score."

Barrie said he was happy with the Mustangs ability to get to the free-throw line and to shoot well.

Played in front of a capacity crowd in Windsor, the visitors had no answer for Windsor's rookie standout who dominated both ends of the floor in the victory. Clemencon had 36 points on an incredible 14 of 19 shooting. The international player was also 8 for 8 from the free throw line and added seven rebounds and three assists on the night.

"We have to all do a better job on the big kid (Clemencon)... they were often easy shots and all at the rim," Barrie said. "We just need to do a better job on her and make sure we are rebound on the defensive end of the ball." 

Windsor held a 54-50 lead at the half after scrappy, back-and-forth play.

In the third quarter, the Lancers were able to finally break away from the Mustangs thanks to more impressive post play from Clemencon and Raelyn Prince. 

Western had no answer for Clemencon as she dominated inside the paint in the second half.
Windsor outscored Western 27-17 in the third quarter to take a 81-67 lead after three quarters of play which proved insurmountable.

The Mustangs host Wilfrid Laurier (4-5) at 1 p.m. on Saturday Jan. 9 at Alumni Hall.

-with files from Emily Branton and Elisa Mitton, Windsor Lancers Sports Information