WBB | Voyageurs Qualify For OUA Playoffs Despite Loss to Thunderwolves
The Laurentian Voyageurs women's basketball team rounded out their season Saturday evening at the Ben Avery Gym against the visiting Lakehead Thunderwolves. Many storylines were in play entering the game, with the main one being Laurentian's opportunity to cement their place in the OUA playoffs with a win.
From Lakehead's perspective, the season hadn't gone quite to plan, as their hopes for a playoff berth had already evaporated. However, they still had the chance to play spoiler on the road in Sudbury and potentially eliminate Laurentian from championship contention.
With the game underway, Lakehead came out strong, setting the pace early, while Laurentian had a slow start. The Voyageurs struggled to find consistency from beyond the arc, hitting only 14.3% of their three-point attempts in the first quarter. They were also forced into seven turnovers, leading to multiple fast-break points for the Thunderwolves, who took an early 18-13 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Laurentian bounced back in the second quarter, outscoring Lakehead 17-14. Their defense tightened up, forcing turnovers and converting them into transition opportunities. Star player Emilie Lafond remained a key presence, scoring six of Laurentian's 17 points in the quarter and dominating inside the paint. Although the Voyageurs looked much improved, they still trailed by two points heading into the second half.
Both teams traded baskets in a back-and-forth third quarter, but Lakehead regained control. Laurentian's shooting cooled off slightly, going just 4-for-13 from the field, while turnovers once again became an issue. Lakehead capitalized on defensive stops, extending their lead to four points entering the final quarter. Despite this, Laurentian remained in a strong position to mount a comeback and secure a crucial win.
Unfortunately, it just wasn't meant to be for the Voyageurs. Lakehead sealed the victory with a dominant fourth quarter, outscoring Laurentian 16-8. Their defense suffocated Laurentian, holding them to just 15.8% shooting. Ally Burke proved to be the difference-maker, finishing with a game-high 24 points. Laurentian struggled to keep up, and despite their fight, they couldn't mount a late comeback, ultimately falling 65-53 to the Thunderwolves.
Laurentian's season ended with a final record of 7-15. However, results from other games went in their favor, meaning that despite the loss, they secured the 12th seed in the regular season and clinched the final OUA playoff spot. They will now face the Brock Badgers on Wednesday night, with tip-off set for 6 p.m. The game will be available to watch for free on OUA.tv.
- Andrew Lemieux