Box Score
Guelph, ON – Thanks to a big fourth quarter in which McMaster outscored Guelph 27-18, the Marauders were able to defeat the Gryphons 72-64 on Wednesday night in OUA women's basketball action.   Danielle Boiago (Hamilton, ON) had 30 points and 10 rebounds for the Marauders.  Katherine MacTavish (Waterloo, ON) had 30 points and 13 rebounds for the Gryphons.  With the loss, the Gryphons fall to 6-6 on the season while McMaster improves to 10-4.
 
Both teams in Wednesday's night matchup at the W.F. Mitchell Athletic Centre got off to a very slow start offensively. At the end of the first quarter, the game was tied 9-9, with Guelph only hitting three of their first 18 shots for 17% shooting. As the second quarter got underway, it seemed like both teams shook their cobwebs. Each team would trade three pointers to make it 12-12.

Kate MacTavish would then go on to score eight straight points helping the Gryphons jump out to the lead. Half way through the quarter, the Marauders would switch to a 2-3-zone defence which seemed to cause some problems for the Gryphons as McMaster would go on a 10-0 run to end the half.  At the break, the Marauders took a four point lead to the locker room.

When the third quarter rolled round, both teams seemed to hit their stride. MacTavish would absolutely dominate in the post in the third quarter, as the Gryphons halftime adjustments appeared to solve the Mac zone defence. MacTavish, who was coming off of a 19 point, 19 rebound performance versus Waterloo, scored 12 of her team's 21 points in the third quarter as Guelph led 46-45 heading to the fourth.  MacTavish finished the night with 30 points to go along with 13 rebounds.  It marks the second time this season the fourth year forward has reached the 30 point plateau (MacTavish scored 35 points in a win versus Western in the season opener).

While the Marauders were struggling to slow down MacTavish, the same could be said about Guelph's inability to contain McMaster guard Danielle Boiago.  Boiago matched MacTavish with 30 points of her own, to go along with 10 rebounds.  The Hamilton native was four of eight from beyond the arc and led the way for the Marauders who would explode for 27 points in the fourth quarter.  A combination of some costly turnovers late on Guelph's behalf, combined with the sharp-shooting of Boiago would ultimately be the difference as the Marauders led 67-53 with a minute and a half left in regulation.  When the final buzzer sounded, McMaster would come out on top 72-64.

This game marked the first of six divisional games that the Gryphons have remaining during the final eight game stretch of their regular season schedule.  Up next, a matchup with Brock on Saturday afternoon at 1pm.  That game is part of the CIS-wide "Shoot for the Cure" initiative, with donations from the day going toward the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.  Gryphon players will be wearing pink t-shirts during warmups and pink socks during the game in support of the cause.