Box Score LONDON, Ont. – For the third time in three weeks the Western Mustangs women’s basketball team took the court opposite the Laurier Golden Hawks, however this time it in an OUA West Quarterfinal matchup. With a trip to the semi-finals on the line both teams battled for 40 solid minutes, and unsurprisingly the game came down to the final minute, with Western earning a 58-54 victory.
 
“It wasn’t an easy game. We knew it was going to be hard,” said Western head coach Brian Cheng after the win. “At this time of year every [game] is going to be hard, everyone’s going to be prepared, everyone that’s in the playoffs deserves to be in the playoffs. That showed in a very good Laurier team that made us earn it tonight.”
 
The Mustangs spread the ball around on Wednesday with four different scorers recording at least eight points. Jenny Vaughan led the way with 12 with both Laura Dally and Annabel Hancock adding 11. Dally was also a force on the boards, tying for the game high with 12 rebounds. Countering for Laurier was Kimberley Yeldon who led all players with 20 points and added 10 rebounds.
 
Befitting a playoff contest between two closely matched rivals the two teams traded baskets throughout the first half with neither team able to gain an advantage in the opening 20 minutes. Once again Western looked to the outside when on offence, going 4-11 from beyond the arc.
 
Despite shooting only 22.5 percent from the field in the first half the Golden Hawks kept pace with the Mustangs, never allowing Western to establish a lengthy scoring run. Key to Laurier’s success in the opening twenty minutes was their superior rebounding ability, pulling down 31 boards, including 16 on the offensive end, compared to 23 rebounds for Western. Following the first half the Mustangs held a slight lead, heading to the break with the score in their favour by four points, leading 28-24.
 
Laurier started the second half strong and after an opening basket by Mara Gruenke the Golden Hawks went on a 6-0 run to tie the game at 30.  The two teams would then trade baskets for the remainder of the quarter with Laurier holding a slight edge to emerge with a 41-40 lead entering the fourth quarter.
 
Unsurprisingly neither team was able to break away and establish a big lead in the final frame, with both sides remaining within a few points of the other throughout the quarter. Finally, with three minutes remaining it looked like Western would take control for good after a three from Annabel Hancock put the Mustangs up 55-49, however the Golden Hawks continued to fight scoring five straight points to pull within one with only 41 seconds to play. Unfortunately for Laurier that was as close as things would get, as Western finished out the game with free throws from Laura Dally and Vaughan to pick up the 58-54 victory.
 
Western now turns their attention to the CIS’ top-ranked team, the undefeated Windsor Lancers. The Mustangs are 0-2 against Windsor this season and head into Saturday’s semi-final matchup knowing they’ll be the underdog.
 
“Windsor’s a tough matchup all around,” said Cheng. “They’re the two time reigning CIS National Champions, so what do we have to lose? We have everything to gain, we get to play arguably the best team in the country and we get to play them in the playoffs. I think that’s a great opportunity for us, there’s only a win-win there for us.”
 
Tip-off for the OUA West Semi-Final is set for this Saturday in Windsor.