WBB | Voyageurs Fall to Lakers
The Laurentian Voyageurs lost a hard-fought match against the Nipissing Lakers on Friday night by a score of 64-55.
The Voyageurs started the match strong by going on a 9-2 run and by shooting 54.5% in the first quarter and restricting the Lakers to 35.3% shooting. Yet, the Lakers scored one more point than the Voyageurs to end the first quarter as the score line read 16-15. The Lakers were led by Devisha Binns with four points and Natalie Martinez and Maria Walsh, both with three points each. On the other hand, the Voyageurs were led by Héléna Lamoureaux with seven points and Bailey Tabin with five points.
The second quarter was a back and forth affair between both teams as the lead changed seven times. The Voyageurs once again had a better shooting quarter than the Lakers, yet, the Lakers managed to outscore them in the quarter by four points as the Lakers scored 16 points whereas the Voyageurs scored 12. At the conclusion of the first half, the Lakers led the Voyageurs 32-27. The Lakers were led by Brianna Dodd with five points and Maria Walsh and Nicole Budd with four points each. The Voyageurs meanwhile were led by Héléna Lamoureux, Danielle Reid and Bailey Tabin with four points each.
The Voyageurs fared much better in the second half. They tied the Lakers with fourteen points in the third quarter on 31.3% shooting. On the other hand, the Lakers shot 42.9% from the field. The Voyageurs came close to levelling the scores late in the third quarter when Arielle Douillette drained a three-point shot with just 29 seconds left in the quarter. The Lakers responded quickly however, as Thaliyah Phillips scored two points from a jump shot to stretch the lead to five points at the quarter's end. The score read 46-41 in favour of the Lakers at the end of the third quarter.
The fourth quarter was quite a unique quarter for the Voyageurs; their most curious quarter of the season. They outscored the Lakers 18-14 but shot only 17.6% from the field. On the other hand, the Lakers shot 33.3% but never surrendered their lead. The Voyageurs once again came within striking distance of the Lakers as they cut the lead to three points 9:22 minutes left in the match but the Lakers put their foot down and stretched the lead to double digits to seal the victory. The Lakers came out victorious against the Voyageurs by a score of 64-55.
The Lakers were led by Natalie Martinez with 16 points and Kylea Galipeau-Wilson with two points whereas the Voyageurs were led by Danielle Reid with five points and Héléna Lamoureaux, Gabby Schaffner and Bailey Tabin with three points each.
With the win, Nipissing clinched their first-ever 705 Challenge Cup victory. The win gave the Lakers a 7-3 lead with only two games remaining (the men's basketball game the same night, and a men's hockey game February 4th). Laurentian had won the previous three 705 Challenge Cups.
The Voyageurs will now rest and then travel to Thunder Bay to take on the Lakehead Thunderwolves on Friday, January 24. Tip off is scheduled for 6 pm at CJ Sanders Fieldhouse.
Wali Khan