The Badgers’ women’s basketball team fell 71-48 to the undefeated TMU Bold (4-0) after a poor third quarter dropped Brock to 2-1 this season.
The game began poorly for both teams as they woefully made a combined eight baskets in the first quarter – five for Brock and three for TMU – despite ranking in the top-five in points per game this season with greater than 70 points each.
Madalyn Weinert, Brock’s leading scorer and the reigning U Sports Athlete of the Week scored four of Brock’s 12 points in the first quarter along with four rebounds – two on the offensive glass – and two assists. Noor Bazzi contributed with the Badgers’ only three-pointer of the period in the dying seconds to take the 12-9 lead after one.
However, in the second, TMU began finding some life and rhythm, going on a 6-0 run at the beginning of the quarter. The Bold shot 37.5 per cent from the field in the frame, while the Badgers only managed to hit three field goals in the quarter on 20 per cent shooting. Badger shooters also combined for an appalling zero-for-eight from behind the arc.
The combination of poor Badger possessions – which led to stagnant offensive spurts – and the inability to hit routine shot attempts, allowed the home side to come back and take the 25-23 halftime lead, a lead which they extended in the second half.
TMU started the third quarter with a bold statement, showcasing their proficiency and supremacy in all aspects of the game.
Jayme Foreman, guard from Hamilton, shot the ball lights out, draining four of her seven made three-pointers in the quarter, accounting for 14 of her game-high 27 points. Rookie forward Corrynn Parker – who attended high school at Niagara Prep – added another 10 points, as the Bold scored 28 points in the quarter.
On the defensive end, TMU defenders had active hands, constantly deflecting passes and irritating the Badger ballhandlers. The Bold forced six Brock turnovers which was a factor in them attaining such a sizeable lead.
TMU went on a 28-4 run to begin the quarter to extend their lead to 26 points before Brock closed the frame on their own 9-0 run to cut the deficit to 53-36 to begin the fourth.
Jamie Addy’s layup three-and-a-half minutes into the quarter cut the TMU lead even more, down from 26 to 12, but it was too late. The offence, which shined last weekend against the York Lions and Toronto Varsity Blues, could not figure out this Toronto team’s defence.
The Badgers were incapable of exploiting the TMU zones – two-three and two-one-two – which led to a poor 10 per cent shooting from deep. The Bold also did a sensational job protecting the paint, which limited Weinert – who averaged 26.5 points per game – to only 11 points, as Brock scored a season-low 48 points, losing 71-48.
Next up for the Badgers is a pair of games next weekend in Ottawa against the Carelton Ravens and Ottawa Gee-Gees. For more information on the Badgers’ women’s basketball team, head to gobadgers.ca.