NORTH BAY – The Guelph Gryphons women's basketball team took its lumps in a trying 2016/17 season. But a program in need of a culture change is showing that the current roster wants to forget about the past. Guelph rode a dominant third quarter to a lopsided 71-44 defeat of the Nipissing Lakers in North Bay Saturday night.
 
The win improves the Gryphons' record to 5-4, equaling the total number of victories the team had in 19 OUA games last year. Head coach Mark Walton stressed the importance of work and having fun before the season got underway – and the young Guelph team has obviously embraced the message. The Gryphons won for the third straight time, including back-to-back victories this weekend on the Northern swing in Sudbury and North Bay.

"It's something we haven't done in a while," Walton said of the modest streak. "We were talking about it. The attitude in the locker room is so positive right now.

"Tonight was a glimpse of what this team will eventually become."
 
Walton was referring to the Gryphons' monster third quarter, in which they outscored Nipissing 25-4. Guelph began passing the ball well to beat the Lakers' zone and with rookie guard Burke Bechard orchestrating the offence, the Gryphons opened the second half on a 12-2 run and ultimately built a massive 30-point lead. The coach was thrilled with the response and suggested it was evidence of his players' buy-in.
 
Veteran forward Ashley Wheeler led the way hitting 8 of 12 shots from the floor for a game-high 18 points. Bechard filled the stat sheet again with 15 points, 7 rebound and 6 assists. Megan Brenkel chipped in 13 points, hitting 2 of her 3 attempts from long range, while rookie point guard Skyla Minaker scored 11 points, with 8 assists, 4 rebounds and 5 steals, and just a single turnover. Minaker got a break after the sharp performance with Bechard taking over in the third.

The rookie combo has been problematic for opponents. Minaker is smooth at the point, creating shots for herself and others. Bechard not only scores, rebounds, distributes and defends, Walton said she does many things that don't even appear on the stat sheet like a key deflection or forcing a travel.

"They are complementing the veterans so well right now," the coach said of the two first-year guards.
 
The Gryphons  had a good shooting night, making 43.9 per cent of their field goal attempts, with a hearty 22 assists. Guelph also forced 23 turnovers and scored 33 points off those Nipissing miscues.
 
Wheeler was the catalyst late in the second quarter, scoring a couple straight baskets, including a layup at the buzzer, to give the Gryphons a 32-23 lead heading into halftime. Guelph blew the game wide open in the third, running away from the Lakers, who just couldn't keep pace with the aggressive visitors and their intense defensive effort.

"Our trap is giving teams fits," said Walton. "It creates so many opportunities for us. They are really starting to figure it out.

"We're learning how to win," he added. "If you're up 12, it's not good enough, you have to be up 15. And if it's 15, why not 20? They are really beginning to understand the process."

The Gryphons play their final game of 2017 Friday, Dec. 1 when the Queen's Gaels come to town. Tip is at 6:00 pm.