GUELPH, ON - Six weeks ago, the Guelph Gryphons women's basketball team sent their old gym out in style by beating York in what was the final women's game ever played at the now 60-year-old W.F. Mitchell Athletics Centre. On Friday night, the team officially ushered in a new era, tipping off against the Laurier Golden Hawks in what was the first varsity basketball game held in the new Guelph Gryphons Athletics Centre. Despite a determined effort by the Gryphons (1-8), they would ultimately fall short, losing 62-55 to the Golden Hawks (8-5).

It did not take long for the Gryphons to christen their new court on Friday night. The first official basket in the new AC came on a made jump shot by Gryphons third year guard Megan Brenkel on what was the Gryphs first possession of the game. The opening quarter of play proved to be an evenly matched affair as Laurier held a slim two-point lead heading to the 2nd quarter. 

























Gryphons second year forward Abbey Clark (Ancaster, ON) led the way for the Gryphs in the first half, leading all scorers with 9 points on 4-of-7 shooting, while also collecting 4 rebounds and 2 steals. While Clark was doing her best to keep the Gryphons within striking distance, the Hawks would start to create some separation thanks to some sharp-shooting from the perimeter. With the game tied at 22-22 late in the 2nd quarter, Laurier would connect on three consecutive three-pointers to end the quarter on a 9-0 run and take a nine-point lead into the break.

The Gryphs fought back in the 3rd quarter and trimmed the deficit to 35-32 near the midway point, but finding a way to slow down Laurier's star fifth year guard proved to be a tall order for most of the night. Senior guard Kaitlyn Schenck led the Golden Hawks with a game-high 20 points on the night. The Kitchener native, who ranks 6th in the OUA in scoring with 14.0 PPG, scored one big basket after another to help Laurier spoil the Gryphons home opener in the new building. 15 of Schenck's 20 points came in the second half of play as Laurier would end the third quarter on a 15-4 run before holding off the Gryphs in the 4th to seal the win.




















The Gryphons received a balanced attack offensively, with all nine players on the roster finding the score sheet on the night. Abbey Clark's 9 points were a team high, with Ashley Wheeler, Haley Belyk and Ivana Vujadinovic close behind with 8 points each. Wheeler and Belyk just narrowly missed out on recording double-doubles, finishing with 12 and 10 rebounds, respectively. 

The Gryphons will be right back in action again on Saturday night (Jan. 14) as they square off against the No. 1-ranked team in Canada in the McMaster Marauders. McMaster is 9-1 on the season and roll into Guelph following a 26-point victory over Laurier on Wednesday.

Tip between the Gryphs and Marauders is set for 6pm on Saturday night and can be seen live online at www.oua.tv.