Western vs Algoma February 13 105-52

Alumni Hall had that senior night feeling before the ball even went up. The hugs were a little longer, the applause landed a little heavier, and every cheer felt like it was carrying four years at once. Western came in 13-8 looking to close the regular season clean and confident, and from the opening possession they played like a team determined to give their seniors the exact kind of night you remember.

First Quarter

Western punched first and never let the game breathe. The Mustangs opened on a 13-0 run that set the tone immediately. The ball moved, the pressure came in waves, and the looks were clean early. Annie Balfe buried a three that sparked the building, and Payton Baker followed with another as Western built the lead through stops and quick strikes.

Renée Armstrong, who would finish with 11 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists, looked like the steady engine she has been all season. Later she would reflect on how much her game has evolved in this program. "This team's allowed me to play more freely than I have in the past. Playing faster, playing more free, having more fun, has been probably the biggest," said Armstrong.

By the end of the first it was 24-9, and it already felt like Western had decided this would be their night.

Second Quarter

The lead only grew because the details stayed sharp. Catíe Joosten hit a top of the key three and buried it with confidence, the kind of presence she brought to this group from the moment she arrived.. Emily Capretta kept making the extra pass, and Armstrong kept stitching everything together with pace and control. Baker caught fire from deep as the avalanche continued.

Western carried a 53-25 lead into halftime, but there was no sense of drifting into celebration. The standard remained. The focus remained. The habits remained.

That is exactly what the head coach later described when asked about the seniors' legacy. "I think it's how to go about things in a professional manner. They do a great job of preparing themselves for practice, taking care of their bodies, they are all great students as well," said head coach Nate McKibbon. "They really show their teammates how to conduct themselves day to day."

Third Quarter

If there was any thought of easing off, Western erased it quickly. The Mustangs came out of the break and doubled down. Syd Cowan attacked space relentlessly. Rachel Daly drilled a three that forced another Algoma timeout. The message did not need to be spoken.

Western was not just playing to win. They were playing to build momentum for what comes next.

When the third ended at 80-35, the game felt secure, but the edge remained. Capretta would later sum up that mindset perfectly. "Just knowing that the job's not finished and that we still have playoffs. The job's not done," said Capretta.

Fourth Quarter

The fourth was joy with purpose. There were smiles on the bench, energy in the building, and pride in every substitution, but the possessions still had intent. Western kept sharing it, kept defending, and kept honoring the standard.

Armstrong's stat line reflected the kind of player she has tried to be. Nearly a triple-double on senior night. But she refused to make it about herself. "None of those stats come around if the players on the team aren't playing well as well," said Armstrong. "It's just a really fun group to play with and I'm gonna miss it."

Capretta echoed the same team-first tone. When asked what she hopes younger players take from this group, she did not hesitate. "How to work together and how to always have each other's back on court and not just off court," said Capretta.

And Joosten, reflecting in the middle of it all, kept coming back to one thing. "Just seeing the team spirit," said Joosten.

Western finished the night with 16 threes, 30 assists, 18 steals, 49 bench points, and a 105-52 final that looked exactly like a team tuning itself up for playoff basketball.

Afterward, the head coach spoke with pride about what this senior class has meant beyond the stat sheet. On Joosten, he recalled the leap she took coming to Canada. "We got to know her last year through the recruiting process but it was all basically remotely. The first time that she came to Canada was August so we hadn't even seen her play in person. We just sort of knew her as a person and watched her play on YouTube," said the head coach. "I just love how she can give you straight truth. She's been very direct in communications but there's always a piece of caring to it as well. She was a really big moral compass for a lot of our players."

On Capretta, he emphasized growth beyond the hardwood. "Emily's played for me for four years. To watch her growth as a person off the court, as an ambassador for our program is probably the biggest thing that I've seen," said the head coach.

And on Armstrong, respect that started long before she wore purple. "We always respected her as one of the best players but one of the best people in our league and she didn't disappoint when she came here," said the head coach.

The night ended the way senior nights are supposed to end. A 105-52 win. A crowd that stayed loud. And a team that looks ready to turn gratitude into playoff basketball.

Western Top Five Game Leaders
Sydney Cowan 20 pts 3 reb 1 ast 4 stl
Payton Baker 18 pts 1 reb 3 ast
Emily Capretta 12 pts 4 reb 5 ast 3 stl 1 blk
Renée Armstrong 11 pts 9 reb 8 ast 1 stl
Catíe Joosten 8 pts 8 reb