THUNDER BAY – Sports – Lakehead Thunderwolves basketball teams will finish their regular seasons in Hamilton this weekend against the McMaster Marauders. Both the men and women’s teams have a lot riding on the outcome of the games, with the Women trying to lock up a playoff spot, and the Men intent on securing an OUA-West #2 seed, and thus a first round bye in the playoffs.

Thunderwolves Basketball 

Women (7-12, OUA-W #6) 

With 2 games remaining, the women need to win 1 to secure the 6th and final playoff spot, as they are 1 game ahead of Guelph, who holds the tie breaker over the Thunderwolves. The T-Wolves will have their work cut out for them against a McMaster team (10-9) that won both games last season (73-44 and 74-57) in the Thunderdome. 

The Marauders are led this year by Hailey Milligan (15.4 PPG, 11.3 RPG) and Danielle Boiago (14.5 PPG), and as a team shoot the most free throws per game (22.3) in the CIS, although connecting on only 68% of them.

Men (13-6, OUA-W #2, CIS #8)

In the wake of being denied the top seed by Windsor last week, the Thunderwolves must keep the pedal to the floor to stay ahead of McMaster (12-7), who trails them by 1 game in the standings. Bearing that in mind, Lakehead need only win 1 game this weekend to secure the #2 seed. 

McMaster has won 5 games straight, each by 19+ points, dating back to a 80-73 loss in Windsor on Jan 23. Their top scorers are Joe Rocca (15.2 PPG) and Taylor Black (15.1 PPG, 6.9 RPG), and McMaster shoots among the best in the country from the field (45.1% FG, 36.1% 3FG).  

Coach Scott Morrison states, “Everyone knows these are big games this weekend in Hamilton, and for that reason there should be no doubt about the focus of each team heading into Friday night.  We are looking to continue our season-long goal of improving each weekend in hopes of saving our best ball for this time of year.  McMaster plays an excellent team game and is one of the top rebounding teams in the country. I think both teams match-up well and we should expect to see two excellent ball games.”

Lakehead Thunderwolves Webcast Coverage Available via Marauders TV

Game times Friday and Saturday are 6pm (Women) and 8pm (Men).