THUNDER BAY – Sports – The Lakehead University Thunderwolves women’s basketball team completed a weekend sweep over the Waterloo Warriors, winning 70-58 on Saturday evening.
Saturday’s match-up brought improved play from both teams’ effort on Friday night. The result was an exciting game that featured several lead changes in the first half, which finally gave way to Lakehead breaking out in the third quarter to establish a lead they would not relinquish. Lacey McNulty was a big part of the second half charge, scoring 11 points in the 3rd quarter, the last of which was a bank-shot three ball from the right wing as time expired. McNulty finished the game with 13 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks.
Guards Kelsey Bardsley (Manchester, UK) and Ayse Kalkan (Winnipeg, MB) were Lakehead’s top scorers, with 20 and 21 points, respectively. Both found their stroke from outside, as Bardsley went 5 for 10 from downtown, and Kalkan 2 of 4. Kalkan would also add 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 6 steals to her final stat line, and Bardsley dished out 6 assists.
Waterloo’s leading scorer was Laura Bossers with 16 (4-of-5 from distance), and Colleen Quinlan had 13.
Coach Jon Kreiner speaking after the win said, “Tonight Waterloo did a great job against our posts and it was Kelsey Bardsley and Ayse Kalkan that needed to step up for us. Lindsay Inkila also played her best game of the OUA season gathering 5 offensive rebounds, 4 assists and 0 turnovers and really played smart against Waterloo’s press. We are now in a playoff battle that can see us 4th-7th and we have to find a way to play more consistently for 40 minutes.”
With the win the women move to 9-9 on the season and are tied with McMaster and Western for 4th place in the OUA West.