London, ON - The Western Mustangs fought valiantly against one of the most dominant programs in the country, but Queen's size, depth, and precision ultimately proved too much as the Gaels captured a 102 to 72 win inside Alumni Hall. Despite the final score, Western's effort, resilience, and pride shone through in every possession as they went toe to toe with a nationally ranked powerhouse.
"At halftime we went in knowing there were a lot of adjustments we needed to make. What we thought we wanted to do at the beginning of the game wasn't working the way we hoped." said Mustangs Guard Emily Capretta "At halftime we decided to really get up and pressure like we normally do and get back to what we are used to doing. I think we came out in the second half much better than the first half, which was definitely a positive."
GAME RECAP
Western came out with energy and rhythm. Emily Capretta opened the game by drilling a three off a crisp pass from Sydney Cowan, setting the tone for the Mustangs' aggressive start. Renee Armstrong sliced through the defense for a smooth layup, and Paris Alexander attacked the rim to keep the offense rolling. But Queen's immediately countered with length and balance, pounding the ball inside to Kiyara Letlow while shooters Bella Gaudet and Ally Smith spread the floor. Brooke Hussey capitalized on turnovers and converted in transition, while the Mustangs answered with physical play from Annie Balfe and Ainsley Lane. Despite Queen's run late in the quarter, Western's intensity never waned. The first ended 32 to 17, with Western competing fiercely on both ends against a taller and deeper opponent.
In the second quarter Queen's showed why they sit near the top of the OUA, dominating the boards and executing with machine like precision. Still, Western met every challenge head on. Natalie VanHeeswyk muscled her way inside for tough points, and Rachel Daly found open teammates with smart passes that broke through the Gaels' defensive press. Lane stayed composed from beyond the arc, draining a three that drew cheers from the home crowd. Armstrong's relentless drives earned her trips to the free throw line, while Cowan's full court pressure forced turnovers that led to fast break chances. Yet the Gaels responded with poise, led by Mikayla McFarlane's bench spark and Letlow's commanding inside presence. Queen's closed the half ahead 59 to 31, but the Mustangs' determination was impossible to miss.
The Mustangs emerged from halftime with fire. Paris Alexander stepped into a wing three off a Cowan feed, then returned the favor by assisting Catie Joosten on a sharp cut through the lane. Armstrong pushed the pace, earning contact and converting free throws, while Cowan showcased her defensive instincts with quick hands that created back to back steals. Midway through the quarter, Sydney found her rhythm, driving hard to the basket for consecutive layups that brought life to the crowd and sparked a Western surge. Queen's, however, answered with cold blooded efficiency. Gaudet and Hussey hit timely perimeter shots, and Letlow continued to dominate the paint, converting second chance looks. The Mustangs closed the quarter trailing 81 to 45, but their energy never dimmed.
Western finished with pride, passion, and unity. Emily Capretta opened the frame with a jumper off a Cowan assist, and Armstrong followed with a deep three that sent a wave of applause through Alumni Hall. Paris connected on another three, while VanHeeswyk established herself in the paint with a strong finish under contact. Cowan capped her night with back to back layups, showing relentless drive and composure in traffic. The Mustangs' bench brought fresh momentum, as Joosten and Balfe crashed the boards and found ways to contribute on both ends. Queen's, though, stayed steady and disciplined, closing the night with precision passing and inside dominance to reach the century mark.
When the final buzzer sounded, the score read 102 to 72, but the story was one of grit and growth. Western's players battled fearlessly against a team that had both height and depth advantages, proving that heart can narrow any gap. Every rebound, every defensive stop, every made shot told the story of a team that refused to back down.
INDIVIDUAL STATS
Renee Armstrong: 17 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals
Paris Alexander: 17 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
Emily Capretta: 10 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists
Catie Joosten: 7 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists
Annie Balfe: 7 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 3 steals
Natalie VanHeeswyk: 7 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block
TEAM STATS
Field Goals: 23 for 62 (37.1%)
Three Pointers: 7 for 23 (30.4%)
Free Throws: 19 for 27 (70.4%)
Rebounds: 24
Assists: 20
Steals: 15
Turnovers: 21
Points: 72
NEXT GAME
The Mustangs are back on home court next weekend with a pair of games, starting Friday night as they host the Algoma Thunderbirds for a 6pm tip-off. Western will then host the Guelph Gryphpns on Saturday night at Alumni Hall, game time is set for 6:00 pm. Get your tickets at WesternMustangs.ca/tickets. Western students get free admission with a valid Western ONECard.
