GUELPH, Ont. – The Guelph Gryphons and the Windsor Lancers could very well end up meeting each other in the opening round of the OUA women's basketball playoffs in two weeks' time. If Friday night's game was any indication, the young Gryphons could pose a serious threat to one of the OUA's perennial powers in women's hoops.
 
Friday night at the Guelph Gryphons Athletics Centre, the Gryphons took a huge step forward towards securing a playoff berth by picking up an impressive 79-74 victory over the visiting Lancers. Gryphons sophomore guard Burke Bechard led the way late, willing her team to victory with several tough makes down the stretch, helping the hosts put an end to the Lancers' conference-high seven game win streak.
 
With a minute and a half remaining in the fourth quarter and the game tied at 74-74, Bechard was able to draw a double team and find teammate Sarah Holmes open in the paint, who was able to drain the floater to put the Gryphons in front 76-74. With under a minute to go and the Gryphons still clinging to a two-point lead, Bechard would seal the win by driving to her left and getting a tough lay-in to go, plus the foul, completing the three-point play to push the Guelph lead to 79-74.
 
The Gryphons were able to lock down the Lancers late, limiting them to 14 points in the final quarter. Very little separated the two teams throughout the evening, with the Gryphons taking a 40-38 lead into halftime, thanks in large part to 15 first half points from third-year centre Modupe Okeowo.
 
The Gryphons (7-14) currently hold down the final playoff spot in the OUA West division and sit four points ahead of Algoma, Western and Waterloo with three games remaining on their regular season schedule. If the playoffs started today, the Gryphons would be the sixth-seed in the OUA West and would travel to Windsor to face the third-seeded Lancers (14-7).
  
Gryphon Take
"This was a heroic team effort tonight. Several of our players were battling injuries and the flu, but found a way to push through. Our overall team intensity and our focus at the defensive end were outstanding. When we needed to come up with stops, our players were able to bear down and get the job done. A great team effort." – Gryphons head coach Mark Walton
 
The Record
Guelph is 7-14
 
Next up
vs Waterloo Warriors – Saturday, February 9 (6pm) - Guelph Gryphons Athletics Centre