The Brock women's basketball team earned their first playoff victory since 2012.

The Badgers, guided by first-year head coach Mike Rao, defeated the Laurier Golden Hawks 54-35 in Round 1 of the Critelli Cup playoffs at Bob Davis Gymnasium on Wednesday.

"Great team win, obviously it's nice to reach the next stage," said Rao.

Rao coached the Notre Dame high school boys basketball team for 36 years before joining the Badgers in 2016.

He played a key role as an assistant coach last year when the men's team reached the U SPORTS National Championships for the first time in 10 years.

This season, he was tasked with revamping Brock women's basketball team after the team went 6-18 and missed the playoffs in 2018. In one season, the Badgers improved their win total to 11 games and Rao now has them heading to the next round of the playoffs.

"We will have our hands full, but we are grateful for the opportunity," said Rao.

The No. 4 Badgers advance to the OUA quarter-finals where they travel to Hamilton to meet the No. 1 McMaster Marauders on Saturday, Feb. 23 at 2 p.m.

Watch live on OUA.tv.

Courtney McPherson filled the statsheet with 14 points, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block in just 25 minutes for Brock.

The Badgers came out firing against the Golden Hawks until a low-scoring, defensive second quarter from both teams, and Laurier led 25-23 at halftime.

In the third, Brock slipped off of screens for buckets in the paint and got down the court fast in transition to earn a 39-32 lead.

Brock outscored Laurier 15-3 in the fourth.

Kristin Gallant scored a game-high 15 points and contributed eight rebounds while Melissa Tatti added 10 points, five rebounds and six assists.

Baelie Campbell poured in eight points and notched seven rebounds, and Miranda Smith, Sofia Croce and Jessica Morris each collected six rebounds.