THUNDER BAY – SPORTS – The Lakehead University Thunderwolves women’s basketball team came away with a victory to begin the new year, 65-55 over the Brock Badgers.
The Badgers showed their claws in the first quarter, as seven players on their roster scored, totalling 20 points to Lakehead’s 13, scored by just three Thunderwolves. Jylisa Williams started under heavy guard by the Badgers, scoring 4 points in the opening quarter. She would find her rhythm in the second Q, scoring 11 and grabbing 4 rebounds to drive the ‘Wolves back in front, 37-32 at the break.
Brock started out hot again to start the second half, drawing even with Lakehead within the first few minutes. As time elapsed and baskets became harder to come by, the Thunderwolves needed an answer, and got one in Katie Ulakovic, who hit two consecutive threes in the fourth quarter to push Lakehead ahead for good.
Lakehead’s defense was the driving force in their win, forcing 24 Brock turnovers. The Badgers shot 42% from the floor to Lakehead’s 33%. Lakehead also got to the free throw line 20 times to Brock’s meagre 3 attempts.
Williams finished with a game high 24 points and 11 rebounds. Ulakovic scored 13 points and Katelyn Andrea rounded things out for the ‘Wolves with 10. Essa Jacobsen returned to the lineup and grabbed 10 rebounds.
For Brock, Jenalyn Yumol scored an efficient 13 points, going 6-of-8 from the field.
Coach Jon Kreiner said, “We won a tough defensive battle where we struggled to score but played stifling defence. We struggled in the first Q but held Brock to 35 over the next three and forced Brock to turn it over. That and Offensive rebounding gave us the extra possessions we needed to score on a tough shooting night. Fifth year Katie Ulakovic stepped up huge tonight on both ends of the court while sophomore forward Katelyn Andrea is rounding into a very consistent CIS player.”
The teams rematch tomorrow at 6pm.
Webcast will be available via OUA TV.
Audio broadcast available via CILU Radio, 102.7 FM
