WBB | Voyageurs Quest for Critelli Cup Ends with Defeat to Badgers
The Laurentian Voyageurs women's basketball team faced off against the Brock Badgers on Wednesday in the first round of the OUA Playoffs, marking the start of their quest for the Critelli Cup.
Laurentian entered the game as the 12th and final seed, facing a tough challenge against the 5th-seeded Badgers, who had already defeated the Voyageurs 70-58 in the regular season. From Laurentian's perspective, this was a shot at revenge and an opportunity to pull off a major upset in round one.
Laurentian started the game with strong energy, but Brock's efficient shooting quickly set the tone. Despite shooting 46.2% from the field in the opening quarter, Laurentian struggled to contain Brock's perimeter attack, with the Badgers hitting four of their nine three-point attempts to create early separation. The trio of starters—Emilie Lafond, Cadence Pecore, and Melanie Cloutier—accounted for 14 of Laurentian's 17 first-quarter points and were key contributors early. However, Brock's defense remained steady, and their consistent shooting—especially from beyond the arc—allowed them to take a 25-17 lead after one.
Laurentian's struggles continued in the second quarter as their shooting percentage dropped to 26.3%, while Brock remained red-hot, shooting 45% from the field and 54% from three-point range. The Voyageurs also found themselves outmatched in the rebounding battle, particularly on the defensive end, leading to second-chance points for the Badgers. It was a difficult quarter for Laurentian, as Brock seemed nearly unstoppable at times, extending their lead to 22 points by halftime.
The Voyageurs showed resilience in the third quarter, beginning what seemed like an unlikely comeback. Their shooting efficiency improved significantly, hitting 50% from both the field and three-point range. Lafond led the charge with aggressive drives to the basket, while Pecore and Megan Axiak provided key three-pointers. Laurentian capitalized on Brock's struggles, as the Badgers' shooting dipped to just 27.8% in the quarter. Increased defensive intensity led to points off turnovers, helping the Voyageurs chip away at the deficit, cutting it to 16 points heading into the final frame with work still to do.
Laurentian put together an impressive late push, once again outscoring Brock while shooting 41.2% from the field. Three-point shooting was a bright spot, with the Voyageurs hitting 57.1% from beyond the arc in the fourth. Lafond finished with a team-high 20 points, while Pecore added 14. Despite holding Brock to just 26.7% shooting, Laurentian's struggles at the free-throw line (50% for the game) proved costly. The Voyageurs battled valiantly until the final buzzer, closing the gap but ultimately falling short 81-72 in a hard-fought contest.
With the defeat, the Voyageurs' season came to an early end. The team also bids farewell to seniors Aneisha Rismond, Megan Axiak, Amber May, Jasmine Lewis, Princess Bernardino, and Melanie Cloutier, who combined for over 280 games played in their Laurentian careers.
- Andrew Lemieux