LONDON, Ont. – Four players scored in the double-digits to help the U Sports No. 7 Windsor Lancers defeat the Western Mustangs 70-48 on Wednesday night at the St. Denis Centre.
With the loss, the Mustangs fall to 5-6 on the season and will remain in third place in the OUA West Division. The Lancers win will move them to 9-2 on the year as they will remain atop the OUA West.
Mackenzie Puklicz led the Mustangs in scoring on Wednesday, recording 16 points to go along with five rebounds and two steals in the loss. The game was Puklicz's fourth in a row scoring in double-digits and her tenth of the season.
Third-year guard
Sam Loucks contributed with five points, four rebounds, and three steals in the game, but ultimately the Mustangs' effort would not be enough to overcome the balanced scoring display from the Lancers' offence.
Windsor was led by fifth-year guard Caitlyn Longmuir who scored a game-high 17 points. Emily Prevost followed with 15 points, along with 12 from Kayah Clarke and 10 from Carly Steer. Prevost also led all players in rebounds, grabbing 15 boards to record the double-double.
The first quarter looked promising for the purple and white, as a quick barrage of three-pointers showed signs of the team's shooting slump coming to an end. The Mustangs went 3-3 from deep within the first five minutes of the game on route to a 19-18 lead at the end of the first frame.
Despite the strong start from the Mustangs, Windsor's Caitlyn Longmuir put on a shooting exhibition of her own from beyond the arc as she led the Lancers to a 31-24 advantage to end the half.
The second half was highlighted by Windsor's extra possessions created by turnovers and an influx of offensive rebounds. The Lancers got off to a fast start in the third quarter going on a 16-3 run to start the frame, en route to taking a 55-38 lead heading into the fourth. The final quarter was a closer affair, but by the end of the night, the Lancers depth helped lead the home side to a 70-48 win.
The Mustangs will be back in action this Saturday, January 14 when they will travel back home for an immediate rematch against the Windsor Lancers in Alumni Hall. The game is set to begin at 1 p.m. and fans can catch the action live on OUA.tv.
