LONDON, ON - Saturday night in London, the Gryphons women's basketball team opened up their 2016-17 regular season with a 58-45 loss to the Western Mustangs. The Gryphons, who trailed by just four points at the half, were outscored 17-5 in the third quarter. Second year guard Sarah Holmes (Welland, ON) led the way for the Gryphons with a team-high 17 points to go along with 7 rebounds.

With all five starters from last year's team having moved on, the new-look Gryphons impressed in what was their first official test of the 2016-17 season, going toe-to-toe with a tough Western team that posted 14-6 record a season ago. The Gryphons outscored Western 18-17 in the 2nd quarter before going cold in the third quarter. The Gryphons were just 3-of-19 from beyond the arc (15.8%) on the night, but two of those three trifectas were knocked down by third year guard Megan Brenkel (Thornhill, ON) who also recorded a pair of steals to go with her 6 points.

Third year forward Quincy Sickles-Jarvis hauled in a team-high 9 rebounds while Samantha Renshaw (Fort Erie, ON) contributed with 5 points in 14 minutes off the bench.

Western was led by their fourth year guard Mackenzie Puklicz. Puklicz, the OUA's regular season scoring leader a year ago with 353 points, finished with a game-high 19 points on 6-of-12 shooting on Saturday night versus the Gryphons.

The Gryphons (0-1) will now prepare for their home opener next weekend as they play host to the Queen's Gaels on Saturday, November 12 at the W.F. Mitchell Athletics Centre. Tip is set for 6pm.