Box Score LONDON, ON -  In their second game of the weekend, the Western Mustangs played the Algoma Thunderbirds once more, resulting in their second victory of the week, going up 60-44.

It was the third game of the week for this Mustangs team, as they faced off against Algoma for the second time in as many days.

The Mustangs opened the game with a fantastic spread on the offensive end, making great use of the space. Algoma, on the other hand, defended exceptionally well and had adjusted to the Mustangs' strategy from last night's game. 

However, the Mustangs quickly warmed up, going on an 11-0 scoring run within the first four minutes. The game remained physical, with both teams fighting hard for each possession. 

Ashley Truesdale had an impressive performance as she sank back-to-back threes, bringing the Mustangs up to a commanding 17-0 lead.

"It's moving the ball around, I think we were able to kind of use this as an opportunity to try some new things... we can really use that going into next weekend," said Truesdale.

Western displayed their offensive prowess, shutting Algoma out until the final minute of the first quarter. The quarter ended with the Mustangs leading 18-02. 

In the second quarter, the Thunderbirds scored their second basket right from the opening possession. Western continued to execute their offensive strategy effectively, crowding the basket and drawing defenders off to create three-point shooting opportunities.

The Mustangs extended their lead to 35-7 with five minutes remaining in the half. Algoma, despite being down by 34 points, continued displaying remarkable effort, fighting hard and not showing any signs of giving up. 

Two Mustangs, MacKeely Shantz and Emily Capretta, had an excellent quarter, scoring 19 of the team's 23 points during this period, as the first half concluded with the Mustangs leading 41-13.

Shantz went on to record a double-double in the game, tallying 14 rebounds, and the same number of points. "She continues to go out and get better and better after her injury, but we knew that she would do that, she's an incredibly talented player," said the Mustangs' Head Coach Nate McKibbon.

As the game progressed into the second half, Algoma displayed renewed tenacity, challenging the Mustangs on every possession. 

Western remained protective under the basket, consistently pulling most of the rebounds. However, they only scored two points since the start of the half, while Algoma put up eight in the same time frame.

Algoma had a much better third quarter compared to their first-half performance. Despite the Thunderbirds' best efforts, the Mustangs extended their lead to 52-27 with two minutes remaining in the quarter. The third quarter ended with Western leading 54-30.

In the final quarter, the Thunderbirds' defense applied more pressure than before, and Western wasn't having the same luck shooting from beyond the arc as they had earlier in the game.

"We just had a couple dips in energy coming out of the half," said Mustang Sam Vidovic, "we got pretty quiet and let them get on a bit of a run, so we just need to not let that get to us." 

Nonetheless, Western continued to showcase their swift offensive agility. With a final score of 60-44, the Mustangs secured a decisive victory over the Thunderbirds. 

The Mustangs are now looking ahead to their next game against the Carleton Ravens on Friday, November 10, at 6 p.m. Fans can purchase tickets at WesternMustangs.ca/Tickets; entry is free for Western students with valid Student Cards.