Badgers advance to OUA Final Four with 72-53 victory over Laurier

ST. CATHARINES, Ont. - The Brock University women's basketball team (23-12 overall) advanced to the OUA Final Four after defeating the Laurier Golden Hawks by the score of 72-53 in the OUA quarter-finals Saturday afternoon at the Bob Davis Gymnasium.

With the score tied 24-24 early in the second quarter, the Badgers put together an 18-2 run over the final six minutes leading 42-26 at the half. During that time Laurier went cold from the field going just 1-for-13 while turning the ball over five times.

Laurier would cut the lead to 14 points, 54-40, early in the fourth. Brock would answer with a 15-1 run over the next three minutes leading by as many as 28 points, 69-41, with 6:23 left in regulation.

The Badgers had three players in double figures led by senior Emily McKay (Toronto, Ont.) who led all scorers with a game-high 18 points. She also added six rebounds and five steals. 

The forward duo of juniors Nicole Rosenkranz (Niagara Falls, Ont.) and Samantha deJong (St. Catharines, Ont.) combined for 29 points and 30 rebounds. Rosenkranz registered a double-double adding 17 points and 12 rebounds. deJong finished one rebound shy of the Badgers school record adding 12 points and career-high 18 boards for the double-double.

Leading the Golden Hawks were senior Christa Mancino (Port Colborne, Ont.) who added 17 points and seven rebounds in her last career game. Rookie standout Shelby Kurt (Waterloo, Ont.) added 11 points and four rebounds. Sophomore Felicia Mazerolle (Elliot Lake, Ont.) chipped in with nine points and five rebounds in the loss.

For the game, Brock shot 41.2% (28-for-68) from the field while Laurier went 19-for-62 (30.6%). Both teams struggled from beyond the arc as Laurier went 2-for-14 (14.3%) and Brock was 2-for-11 (18.2%). The Badgers out rebounded Laurier by a wide margin 55-41. 

The Badgers will take on the host and No. 6 ranked Ottawa GeeGees at the OUA Final Four next weekend. The other OUA semi-final will see No. 2 ranked Windsor Lancers against the No. 5 Carleton Ravens.

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