The York University Lions women's basketball team starts the new year off against a pair of divisional rivals as they host the No. 8 nationally ranked Brock Badgers and the McMaster Marauders at Tait McKenzie Centre.
 
The Match-up: York (6-6) vs. No. 8 Brock (9-1) and McMaster (6-4)
 
Game Details
Brock – Wednesday, Jan. 8 @ 6pm, OUA.tv
McMaster – Saturday, Jan. 11 @ 6pm, OUA.tv
 
Home/Away Records
York – 4-1 at home
Brock – 4-0 on the road
McMaster – 4-2 on the road
 
Current Streak
York – Won 1
Brock – Won 6
McMaster – Lost 2
 
Last Meetings
The Lions dropped their lone game against the Badgers last season, falling by just two points in a 75-73 result on the road in St. Catharines, Ont. Prior to that, the Lions had won two straight against the Badgers, including a 55-46 victory in their last meeting at York. Last year, Cyanna King poured in an impressive 23 points off the bench while shooting 7-8 from the floor. As division rivals this year, the two teams will meet one more time, on the road in three weeks.
 
The Marauders topped the Lions 84-62 at the Burridge Gym in Hamilton, Ont., in their last meeting, their second triumph in what became an eight-game winning streak en route to winning the OUA and U SPORTS championships. Lauren Golding led the Lions against the Marauders dropping a double-double with 10 points and 14 rebounds. The new OUA alignment has York and McMaster in the same division now, meaning the two squads will meet again later this season in Hamilton.
 
QUICK FACTS
 
York

• The Lions ended 2019 on a winning note after dropping the Lakehead Thunderwolves 82-57 on the road. The team shot an impressive 55% from field goal range, and 39% from behind the arc.
• The win over Lakehead stopped a mini three-game losing streak prior to the break. In addition to a loss to the Thunderwolves in their first match-up, the Lions were defeated in a pair of contests against Carleton and Ottawa, both ranked among the nation's top five.
• Boasting one of the better defences in the OUA, the Lions rank sixth in the conference in rebounds per game with 5.3, and steals per game with 10.2.
• The Lions have recorded at least 10 steals in their last three games, averaging 11.3 steals per game in that span.

 
Brock

• The Badgers picked up their sixth win in a row in their final game before the long December break with an 82-80 win over the Marauders on the road.
• The No. 8 ranked team has been the second best defensive unit in the league, holding their opponents to shooting 32.1% from field goal range, and 22.1% from three.
• Despite ranking sixth in the OUA in points per game with 72.2, the Badgers are one of three teams featuring four or more players average double digit points on the year.
• The Badgers will return home to take on the Toronto Varsity Blues three days later at the Bob Davis Gym.

 
McMaster

• The reigning U SPORTS champions are coming off a pair of contested matches, falling to the Badgers 82-80 at home, and the Toronto Varsity Blues 76-66 a day later on the road.
• After a sparkling 21-3 regular-season record last year, the Marauders already have four losses in their first 10 games.
• Featuring the leagues quickest hands, the Marauders lead the league in steals per game with 13.4. On the flip side, turnovers have plagued the squad as they rank second averaging 14.6 per game.
• The Marauders will take on the No. 5 ranked Ryerson Rams at home on Wednesday before making the trip to the Tait McKenzie Centre.

 
PLAYERS TO WATCH
 
York
 
F Megan MacLeod – Leads her team in minutes per game with 27.4. She is shooting an impressive 47.2% from field goal range, good enough for ninth in the conference, and leads the Lions in scoring (13.2 points per game) and is second in rebounds (4.8 per game).
 
G Katrina Collins-Samuels – Ranks third in the OUA in steals with 27. She picked up six steals in the win against Lakehead, dropping 19 points on 70% shooting from the floor. She is currently third in team scoring with 11.1 points per game, a career high.
 
Brock
 
PG Melissa Tatti – The 2019 OUA second-team all-star leads the OUA in assists per game with 6.6 and ranks fifth overall in scoring, dropping 15.9 points per game.
 
C Samantha Keltos – Ranks sixth in the OUA in rebounds per game averaging 8.3. She has averaged 21 points in her last three games.
 
McMaster
 
F Christina Buttenham – Leads her team and is ranked first in the OUA in steals with 36, and fifth in the OUA in rebounds per game with 8.5.
 
G Sarah Gates – A 2019 OUA second-team all-star, she has started in every game she has appeared in this season and is second in team scoring with 14 points per game.