The Brock Badgers’ women’s basketball team fell 84-80 in overtime to the McMaster Marauders, losing their first game in 2024 and ending an 11-game win streak.
Angeline Campbell, fourth-year guard from Toronto, had a breakout performance, playing a pivotal role in keeping the Badgers within striking distance. The Women & Gender Studies major finished one rebound shy of her first double-double of the season, with a stat line of 18 points, nine rebounds, five assists and a game-high four made three-pointers.
Madalyn Weinert, a likely MVP candidate, also contributed to the Badgers late-game push for victory, tallying 19 points, 15 rebounds – seven of which were on the offensive glass – and seven assists.
However, it was Oluwatito Akinnusi and Vienna Vercesi who factored in for the Badgers in the first quarter.
The two bigs combined for 12 of Brock’s 17 points in the frame, eight for Akinnusi and four for Vercesi, who used their size and strength to control the paint by securing rebounds and drawing fouls.
Yet, McMaster countered by dominating the perimeter by draining a trio of threes at opportune times. Marauder guards Amy Stinson and Jenna Button each nailed a three in the period, as the duo finished with a combined six made three-pointers – two less than the entire Brock team – and 33 points.
McMaster had a slight 18-17 lead after one.
In the second, it was the Badgers turn to dominate from beyond the arc. Campbell, the Badgers’ leader in threes made this season, sunk a pair of threes including one in the dying seconds of the half to cut the deficit to three, 38-35, entering halftime, as she continued her dominance in the third.
The junior guard tallied seven points, five rebounds, three assists and 50 per cent shooting (3-for-6) in the quarter, but quality bench production by McMaster quickly negated Campbell’s contributions.
The Marauder duo of Sophia Urosevic and Ashley Guerriero led their team with six points each in just four and three minutes respectively, draining a pair of three-pointers, leading to a 58-55 McMaster lead through three which was extended in the fourth.
The Marauders jumped out to a seven-point lead midway through the quarter before the Badgers stormed back, showing their resilience.
Vercesi initiated the comeback with a jumper cutting the deficit to five, which also added to her career-high 10 points, as the rookie continues to improve down the stretch.
Noor Bazzi followed suit with one of her two made three-pointers in game, before Weinert tied the game at 71 with under a minute remaining.
McMaster reclaimed the lead with half a minute left but Olivia Fiorucci tied the game with eight seconds on the clock, forcing overtime.
In the extra frame, both teams traded baskets trying to avoid squandering a winnable game. Weinert led all scorers with five points in overtime while Button led the home side with four, including a crucial three-pointer leading to the 84-80 McMaster victory.
Next up for the Badgers (16-5) is the season finale on Feb.17th at the Bob Davis Gymnasium against the Nipissing Lakers (3-17). For more information about the Brock Badgers’ women’s basketball team, head to gobadgers.ca.
