WBB | Voyageurs Down Ridgebacks, Clinch Playoff Berth

The Laurentian Voyageurs women's basketball team began their final home stand of the season with a 64-51 victory over the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks, clinching a playoff berth with the victory.

It was a first quarter that saw the Voyageurs take an early 9-2 lead and put them in the driver's seat for the rest of the first quarter. It was a solid quarter displayed by Laurentian, taking good shots when needed and limiting total team fouls to just two in the first, avoiding any bonus free throw attempts that has come back to hurt them throughout the season. However, it was four turnovers over the course of the first that were capitalized on by the Ridgebacks, who brought the lead down to just three by the end of the first.

Both teams were determined to pick up a much-needed victory and neither side was willing to give an inch. For the Voyageurs, Bailey Tabin led the way in the second with six points on 3-5 shooting and, although the three point shooting went down from 66% in the first quarter to just 29% in the second, Laurentian was able to extend their lead by one and take a 34-30 lead into the break.

At the start of the third quarter, it looked as though Laurentian seemed to have lost their touch around the basket. Their worst quarter of the game saw them put up just 8 points on 4-12 shooting from the field, along with seven turnovers. Although their defense was able to limit the damage, it was now the Ridgebacks who were taking a two-point lead into the final ten minutes.

A game that was on the verge of slipping away from the Voyageurs and hindering their playoff hopes came down to the wire. However, a flurry of baskets and made free throws in the final three minutes saw the Voyageurs go on a monstrous 13-1 run to end the game, putting away the Ridgebacks, picking up their ninth win on the season, and clinching a playoff berth in the process.

Laurentian, on the night, was led by the 17 points and 8 rebounds from Bailey Tabin and an impressive 12 points, on an efficient 6-8 shooting off the bench, from Emilie Lafond.

The Voyageurs will finish their season with their senior night on Saturday night at the Ben Avery as they face-off against the top team in OUA, the Queen's Gaels.

Andrew Lemieux