Box Score ST. CATHARINES, Ont. – Following a weekend split with the Lakehead Thunderwolves the Western Mustangs women’s basketball traveled to St. Catharines Wednesday night to attempt to hand the Brock Badgers their first defeat of the season. Despite a strong third quarter comeback the Mustangs were unable to break Brock's perfect record, falling to the Badgers 65-57.
 
The Mustangs spread the scoring around on Wednesday with three of five starters in double digits in points. Jenny Vaughan led the Western contingent with 15 points, along with four rebounds, three assists, and five steals with Emma Nieuwenhuizen and Laura Dally just behind her with 14 and 13 points respectively. Dally was also a force on the boards, bringing down a game-high ten rebounds.
 
Leading the Brock offence was Nicole Rosenkranz who recorded 17 points to lead all players. Rosenkranz also added 10 rebounds, two assists, three steals, and two blocks. Also putting up strong numbers for the Badgers were Kayla Santinilli who notched 16 points, and Andrea Polischuk with 12.
 
The opening quarter was a tightly played contest with neither team able to gain much of an edge until the final two minutes of the period when Brock was able to pull away slightly thanks to a pair of baskets from Santinilli and Rosenkranz, giving the Badgers an 18-13 lead after the first frame.
 
Quarter number two unfolded virtually the same as the first with the two teams effectively trading baskets throughout the quarter. The Mustangs slowly cut down Brock’s lead, however a late 6-0 run bought the Badgers some breathing room and allowed them to take a 33-23 into the half.
 
The first five minutes of the third quarter maintained the status quo with Brock maintaining their lead despite Western’s best efforts. Just before the midway point of the quarter the Mustangs began to chip away at the Badgers on the sterength of Vaughan scoring nine points in the quarter’s final six minutes, with the team eventually pulling to within two, trailing 45-43 heading into the final quarter.
 
Opening the fourth quarter with the momentum in their favour Western didn’t waste any time going back on the offensive as Mara Greunke tied things up only 18 seconds into the frame. The game then became a point-for-point affair with the two teams trading points back and forth until just before the late stages of the quarter.
 
With 3:20 remaining Dally hit a jump shot to pull Western within a point as Brock lead 58-57, unfortunately for the Mustangs the Badgers would then shut the door, not allowing another point for the remainder of the game and taking escaping with a 65-57 win.
The loss drops the Mustangs 7-7 on the season, and the team currently sits in third place in the OUA West, two points ahead of Lakehead, Laurier, and McMaster.
 
Next up for Western is a home contest against the Guelph Gryphons this Saturday at Alumni Hall. Tip-off is set for 1:00 p.m.