TORONTO, ON – The women’s basketball team started their OUA season with a win on Friday evening, 63-53 over Ryerson.
The Lady T-Wolves wasted no time putting pressure on the Ryerson guards, picking up full court and forcing the ball from the Rams’ point guard. The subs came fast and furious for the ‘Wolves whose intensity on D demanded a full team effort.
While their defense was intense, their offense struggled to find it’s rhythm early, getting their first 9 points (of 13 in the 1st Q) from three-pointers by Lindsay Inkila, Carolyn Fragale and Kelsey Bardsley. What they lacked in execution they more than made up for with hustle on the offensive glass, trailing 15-13 after 10 minutes.
As the second quarter developed, Ryerson’s Kelsey Wright heated up from beyond the arc, but was countered by Lakehead’s Kelsey Bardsley in what became a long-distance shoot-out. Wright would finish with three 3-pointers (3-4), while Barsdley would do the same (3-8). When three’s weren’t dropping in, Ashley Randall, Jessica de Haan and Lindsay Inkila were active on the offensive glass, totalling 9 O-boards on the game.
Lakehead trailed 35-25 at the half.
Whatever Lakehead was told in the locker room at half time, they came out and executed in the 2nd half. The T-Wolves locked down defensively, and made space for Carolyn Fragale on offense, who hit floater after floater in the lane to lead the charge back. At the other end, she was also shutting down Rams star Cassandra Nofuentes (8 point total, 2-10 shooting). Rachael Bland capped off the run with a three to take the lead at 1:25 of the third. LU won the 3rd Q 16-5.
The fourth would be more of the same, as Ryerson’s offensive drought would stretch over 10 minutes, ending with a Wright 3-pt shot with 5:05 left in the game, which was immediately answered by a Katie Ulakovic three. Fragale put them up by 10 with 3:30 left on a jumper, which sealed the deal for the T-Wolves.
Fragale would finish with 26 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists. Kelsey Bardsley was next with 15 points. Ayse Kalkan had a game-high 12 rebounds while Jessica de Haan finished with 10.
Kelsey Wright led the Rams with 17 points. Annie Bourdeau had 9 rebounds (6 offensive).
Coach Jon Kreiner stated post-game, “Tonight wasn’t our best game, and in the 1st half we were hesitant. We didn’t get much from our posts tonight, but in the end, our defense stepped it up and Carolyn provided the offence we needed. Very happy to get the W. We’ll need to make some adjustment for Toronto tomorrow.”
The women play U of Toronto tomorrow at 6 pm. Webcast will be available via SSN Canada.
