The York University Lions women's basketball team returns to home court this weekend with a pair of games against the Brock Badgers and No. 5 McMaster Marauders at the Tait McKenzie Centre.
The Match-up: York (0-1) vs. Brock (2-0) and No. 5 McMaster (1-0)
Game Details
Brock – Friday, Nov. 3 @ 6pm, OUA.tv
McMaster – Saturday, Nov. 4 @ 6pm, OUA.tv
Home/Away Records
York – 0-1 at home
Brock – 0-0 on the road
McMaster – 0-0 on the road
Current Streak
York – Lost 1
Brock – Won 2
McMaster – Won 1
Last Meetings
The Lions defeated the Badgers in their lone meeting last year, winning 52-48 to start a three-game winning streak in late January. Prior to York's triumph last season, the Badgers won eight straight games dating back to the 2007-08 season.
The Marauders were ranked No. 1 in U SPORTS when they faced the Lions last year and earned a lopsided victory. They have won six straight meetings between the two squads, with York's last win coming during the 2010-11 season.
QUICK FACTS
York
- The Lions opened the season with a narrow 69-63 loss to Lakehead on home court last week. The game was tied with less than three minutes remaining, but the Thunderwolves came up clutch down the stretch to earn the victory.
- Prior to that they had a strong pre-season in which they went 5-5 against U SPORTS opponents, including wins against UBCO twice, MacEwan, StFX and Waterloo.
- Last year, the Lions averaged 53.5 points for and 67.6 points against.
- After this weekend, the Lions will be on the road for their next four, heading to Guelph, Algoma, Laurier and Waterloo before returning home at the end of November.
Brock
- The Badgers were the first team to reach two wins this season, picking up a pair of victories last week over Western and Laurier. They dominated the fourth quarter against the Mustangs in a 62-53 victory, outscoring them 23-10 in the final frame. Their game against the Golden Hawks was tighter, ending 65-60.
- The Badgers struggled defensively last year, ranking 15th in the OUA with 69.7 points allowed per game. They also scored 66 per game.
- Brock finished eighth last year and was upset in the first round of the playoffs by the Lakehead Thunderwolves.
- The Badgers will also be in Kingston, Ont., this weekend to face the Queen's Gaels on Saturday night.
McMaster
- McMaster began the year with a 70-61 victory over the Guelph Gryphons in their opener last week.
- The Marauders were ranked No. 1 in U SPORTS at the end of last season but didn't reach the national tournament. They opened this year at No. 5 this week.
- The Marauders were the highest-scoring team in the OUA last season, putting up 78.6 points per game, five more than any other team in the conference. They were also fifth defensively with only 57.7 points allowed.
- The Marauders spent several weeks at No. 1 in U SPORTS last year and finished the regular season as the third seeds. They lost a heartbreaking 55-54 decision to Carleton in the semifinals and finished fourth.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
York
F Lindsay Shotbolt – The fifth-year forward is in her debut season with the Lions after four years with Carleton, where she was a three-time OUA East all-star. She scored 15 points in the opener, tying her for seventh in OUA scoring, and she is also sixth with nine rebounds.
F Megan MacLeod – An OUA East all-rookie team member last year, she scored 12 points in the opener against Lakehead.
Brock
F Courtney Mcpherson – Leads the OUA with 14.5 rebounds per game, and she is also averaging 10 points per game after opening week. She is in her first season with the Badgers after transferring from Niagara College.
G Brooke Murdoch – Another Niagara College transfer, she led the Badgers in scoring last week with 12.5 points per game.
McMaster
F Linnaea Harper – Ranked second in team scoring last year with 12.6 points per game. She put up 13 points and eight rebounds in the opener against Guelph.
G Hilary Hanaka – McMaster's leading scorer against the Gryphons with 15 points.
