WBB - VOYAGEURS FALL TO SAINT MARY'S IN TOURNAMENT OPENER

The Voyageurs women's basketball team opened up the weekend with more preseason play in Halifax against Saint Mary's University Friday afternoon. The Voyageurs fought hard but ended up falling short 78-40 to the Huskies.

The first quarter began with the Huskies scoring 14 points within the first five minutes of the game. Their aggressive defence made it difficult for Laurentian to get near the net. At the 5-minute mark, guard Lauren Robertson-Martin scored the first 2 points for the Voyageurs. The Huskies kept finding ways to the net, making it 27-2 at the end of first quarter, putting the Voyageurs in a difficult position.

The Voyageurs started the second quarter by reaching 5 points, with a three-point shot from Rileigh Smith. The Huskies made many shots and layups at the net, extending their lead by a margin of 30 points. Melanie Cloutier added two free throws on the board, along with a layup from Emilie Lafond to finish off the quarter. With numerous fouls by the blue and gold, the Huskies added 10 points on the board from free throws, extending their lead 46-9 going into the half.

To start off the second half, Lafond and Lyndelle Joseph scored a combination of 5 points, adding more points to the Voyageurs' side of the scoreboard. With more momentum, the Voyageurs finished the quarter with 31 points and a 36-point deficit.

In the last ten minutes of the game, Laurentian managed to net 9 more points, but unfortunately due to the Huskies' organization and aggressiveness offensively, the lead was too great for the Voyageurs to catch up.

The Voyageurs standout performers included Sudbury native Emilie Lafond with 13 points, followed by Rileigh Smith scoring 5 points and 8 rebounds.

The women are back on the court tomorrow afternoon, as they face the Dalhousie Tigers at 3pm.

-Madison Boileau