Box Score LONDON, Ont. - A historic game for the Western Mustangs—highlighted by a couple of broken records for veteran guard Jenny Vaughan—ended in celebration as head coach Brian Cheng's squad sealed their trip to the playoffs with a 65-57 win over the visiting Laurier Golden Hawks at Alumni Hall on Saturday afternoon.

The event marked the last regular season game in the collegiate careers of a handful of remarkable Mustang athletes. Vaughan led the game with a 21-point, 10-rebound double-double while also assisting on five shots and recording three steals. With her 21 points Vaughan now holds the OUA single-season scoring record, registering 506 points this year to topple the previous mark of 499.

The Dundas-native was flanked by a pair of tough interior threats in seniors Katelyn Leddy and Melissa Rondinelli. Each would play a crucial role in the victory, Leddy also recording a 15-point, 11-rebound double-double and Rondinelli totalling 18 points on 7-for-10 shooting.

Western's fourth senior, wing Kelsey Wright, was held to only two attempts from the field but made her impact known on the defensive-end, shutting down the perimeter with her aggressive positioning.

Western started the game the right way. Vaughan would open scoring with a lay-up on the Mustangs' first offensive possession, keying a 14-4 run for the purple and white. The Golden Hawks would find their rhythm though, bouncing back to trail the home-team by three heading into the second quarter. Laurier would then use their momentum to pull away from the Mustangs on 10-for-19 shooting in the second quarter to head into halftime with a 35-28 lead.

With 3:55 remaining in the third quarter, Vaughan achieved something she's done many times in her illustrious collegiate career: made it to the foul-line and hit both of her free-throws.  The significance of the pair of shots transcends their humble nature, however.

The first shot tied the OUA's single-season point record; the second made Vaughan the uncontested sole record-holder and first player to surpass the 500-point mark in a single season of OUA basketball. 

"It gets easy when you have such talented teammates," said Vaughan of her tremendous achievement. "Our record is 16 and 6 for a reason and I can't count how many open lay-ups and shots my teammates have gotten me over the season and over my career. Really, it's a credit to them."

"It's a special day everyday when Jenny is here," added coach Cheng. "Whether it's in practice or in the summer, she's been an exemplar.  She has shown the team what that line of excellence looks like and she prepares for excellence. It's not that we just roll her the ball, she prepares hard."

"They say it takes over 10,000 hours of preparation to make an Olympic athlete; well I say it took over 10,000 hours to make Jenny Vaughan."

The inspired period of record-breaking play concluded with a Rondinelli jump-shot from the elbow with time expiring, giving the Mustangs their first lead since the first half.

Western would enter the final decisive quarter with both the game and a first-round playoff bye at stake, leading the Golden Hawks 48-46.

The teams would fight tooth and nail for possession with neither the Mustangs nor the Golden Hawks being able to take command. The Mustangs' two-point lead would hold until 2:05 left in the game.

Several key defensive stops and some successful trips on offense would give the purple and white some breathing room with under a minute to play. With just over 20 seconds left, Rondinelli would ice the win with a two-for-two trip to the foul line.

As the seniors were recognized post-game for their years of dedication to the sport, coach and players alike beamed proudly about what this program has accomplished so far this season.

"I think there is a tremendous sense of pride and purpose in what we're trying to get done this year," said coach Cheng. "We talked about resolve and that is something we want to embody, whether we're up 20 or down 20, we're going to approach the game the same way and I think we do that."

"My whole life revolves around the team and the school and representing Western as positively as possible," added Vaughan. "Heading into the playoffs, I know that today is proof that we are ready. After five years and tons of ups and downs, we're peaking at the right time and I am so grateful that I got to be a part of this team for one more year."

The Mustangs will now play the waiting game as one of two teams in the OUA West with a bye in the first round of the playoffs. They will play host to a yet-to-be-determined visitor February 22 at Alumni Hall. Tip-off is slated for 1:00 p.m.