WATERLOO, Ont. – The Western Mustangs women's basketball team had their work cut out for them in facing a CIS No. 8 Laurier Golden Hawks squad that entered Wednesday's game riding an eight-game winning streak. And although the Stangs kept tabs on them in the second half, Laurier's high-scoring first quarter was enough to hand Western a 75-49 loss at the Wilfrid Laurier Athletic Complex, Wednesday evening.
 
The loss gives Western a 2-8 regular season record and in fourth place in the OUA West, while Laurier moves to 9-1 and remain in second place in the West.
 
Team scoring was carried by Caroline Wolynski and Mackenzie Puklicz, who combined for 29 points. Wolynski scored 15 while picking up four rebounds. Puklicz netted 14 points, grabbed three rebounds, and led both teams with five steals. Laurier's Whitney Ellenor led all players in both points and rebounds with 19 and 12 respectively.
 
Also impressive was the assertive play on the glass from 5'7" guard Maddy Horst, who had seven rebounds for the night. Horst's rebound numbers help fill the hole felt by the absence of Victoria Heine who did not play.
 
Western's first half scoring challenges reared their head early on in the game when the Golden Hawks went on a 17-0 run to start things off on their home court. This blanking would be undone by a good jump shot from Horst with 3:37 left to play. Puklicz and Wolynski chipped in with good layups to finish the quarter, but Ellenor's 10-point quarter helped put Laurier up 27-6 at the end of the 10 minutes.
 
The second quarter saw the Mustangs start to regroup defensively, forcing turnovers and stripping the ball, while doubling their scoring output from the first quarter. The Stangs brought the Hawks back down to earth for 16 points on the quarter, but still trailed at the end of the half 43-18.
 
Wolynski set the tone for the second half right out of the gates with a layup seven seconds in to the third quarter. Puklicz's field goal just over a minute later started a scoring tandem between the two who would combine for 13 of 16 Mustang points in the third. Their output helped keep the team competitive with the Hawks on the quarter, but Laurier kept a comfortable 26-point lead at 60-34.
 
Defensive pressure helped the Mustangs net 6 of 15 points in the fourth quarter on turnovers and helped to stay even with the Golden Hawks offensively throughout the remainder of the game. However, Laurier's early success maintained a cushion that allowed them to walk off the court with a 75-49 victory.
 
The Mustangs return to Alumni Hall on Saturday for their first home game of 2015. They will tip off against the Waterloo Warriors, who have not won a regular season game against Western since 2008. That game tips off at 1 p.m. and can be watched on OUA.tv.