Western vs Laurier January 30 84-63.

Alumni Hall

Western walked into Alumni Hall knowing Laurier well, three straight wins already in the pocket, but the opening minutes had a different feel. Laurier came out flying, attacking early gaps and forcing Western to chase the game. The Golden Hawks pushed the lead to eight and when the scoreboard hit 20 12 it looked, for a moment, like Western might be in for a grind.

Then the first quarter found its turning point in one shot. With the clock dying, Sydney Cowan rose and drilled a three at the buzzer. It was the kind of make that calms a team down and wakes a gym up at the same time. Western steadied their possessions, tightened the glass, and kept trimming until the quarter closed with Laurier only up two, 24 22. Little did Laurier know, that was the last time they would ever play with the lead.

The second quarter was where Western grabbed the steering wheel and did not let go.

It started with one defensive sequence that felt like a statement. Natalie Van Heeswyk came up with a block and then a steal on the same possession, sparking a quick push that ended with a Cowan layup. Laurier turned it over again right after, and Cowan buried a confident three that forced an immediate timeout. In a blink, Laurier went from leading the game to chasing it, and Western had the building behind them.

Afterward, head coach Nate McKibbon said the first quarter was partly about Laurier's plan, and partly about Western needing a beat to read it. "They came in with a really good game plan to try to attack us, not only to the high post, but quick post entries and move the ball before we were able to get to our rotations," said McKibbon. "But once we do, I'm proud of them for getting to spots a little bit quicker, doubling down on the post a little bit more, adjusting our rotations from the backside, and I thought our tops did a really good job of supporting the action, getting out to shooters," said McKibbon.

That is exactly what the second quarter looked like. Western's rotations arrived earlier, the paint got crowded, and the ball started moving with real purpose on offence. The run kept growing until Western carried a commanding lead into halftime, up 53 35, a swing powered by pressure, pace, and points that came in waves.

McKibbon pointed to what that kind of half can build inside a team. "Confidence is such an all mental thing," said McKibbon. "It's momentum, but I think more than that, it's belief," said McKibbon. "They believe the defence is going to give them opportunities to compete," said McKibbon.

The third quarter kept that belief on the floor, even when the scoring slowed. Monique Monplaisir delivered an early and one, a three point play that set the tone and pushed the lead back up with authority. Western did not give Laurier any clean breath, and the Mustangs carried a 66 49 advantage into the fourth.

Renée Armstrong explained the key adjustment that made the game feel one sided after that opening stretch. "After that first quarter, we kind of saw what they were trying to do against the zone and they were sending two people loaded blocks," said Armstrong. "Being able to read that, and our coaching staff did a good job letting us know what was going on, so we could crash the boards harder and make sure the shots they were taking were difficult and off balance," said Armstrong.

The fourth quarter was a closeout. Ainsley Lane powered through contact for an and one, and Western kept the pressure on even with the game in their hands. The ball stayed sharp, the defence stayed connected, and the lead stretched until the final horn arrived with Western up 84 63.

Armstrong also spoke to the way Western plays when they are in control, and why the ball keeps moving instead of sticking. "I love getting assists and that gives me a lot more energy than anything else," said Armstrong. "When we move the ball quickly and make sure a lot of people are getting different touches, then everybody plays better," said Armstrong. "We're playing twelve deep, and that's harder to beat than one individual person," said Armstrong.

Cowan echoed that same idea when asked about finding her rhythm from deep. "I wouldn't have been open if we weren't moving the ball and sharing it," said Cowan. "Renee's passes are what got me those shots, those good looks," said Cowan. And even with the win streak building, she kept the focus forward. "It's a new game every day," "It's getting close to playoffs, so everyone's going to bring their best, so we're going to do the same," said Cowan.

Western finished the night with an 84 63 win, turning an early eight point hole into a wire tightening performance built on adjustments, defence, and belief.

Top five Western game leaders
Sydney Cowan 21 points 3 rebounds 2 assists 2 steals
Emily Capretta 12 points 7 rebounds 2 assists 4 steals
Paris Alexander 8 points 3 rebounds 5 assists 3 steals 1 block
Catie Joosten 8 points 3 rebounds 3 assists 2 blocks
Renée Armstrong 6 points 9 rebounds 10 assists 3 steals 3 blocks