Chiarot earns All-Star nod

Ben Orr

Silhouette Staff

It is fitting that the Marauders would finish the season with an 11-11 record, as the 2011-12 season was as up-and-down one sometimes defined by a struggle to compete with the elite in the OUA.

Still, much can be said for a young women's squad winning 11 games and earning a playoff berth, and undoubtedly the atmosphere surrounding the program heading into the off-season is a positive one.

The season would begin at Burridge Gym in the form of a loss to a strong Carleton Ravens team which would go on to win 17 games and capture second in their division. It would end on the same floor with a loss to the rival Western Mustangs, as the Maroon and Grey would fail to advance to the conference quarterfinals. The Marauders jockeyed for position all season long with the Mustangs, who finished with an identical 11-11 record.

Notably, Coach Theresa Burns was unable to be on the sidelines for her team’s final game after suffering a concussion while playing pick-up hockey.

The Marauder women struggled all season long to capture positive momentum and put any kind of streak together. It was indeed a season characterized by mediocrity, as the squad was never far below .500, but never surged up the standings either. The team suffered numerous injuries, especially in the new year, most notably to rising star Abby Hurd. Coach Burns struggled with putting a consistent starting five on the floor night in and night out.

The injuries forced the youth of the team to rise to the occasion, and rise they did. Along with Hurd, a rookie, Liz Burns, Vanessa Bonomo and Hailey Milligan all had strong campaigns in their third season competing for McMaster.

The brightest spot of the season came in the form of fifth year senior and captain, Taylor Chiarot. After a standout season which saw her average 17 points a game and grab 126 defensive rebounds, Chiarot was named an OUA West First-Team All-Star for the first time in her illustrious career at Mac. Her 1,289 career points are good enough for 13th all time in OUA history and make her the all-time leading scorer for the McMaster Marauders women's program.

Jessica Clemençon of Windsor won her second straight Player of the Year award and her coach, Chantal Vallée took home Coach of the Year honours. The Lancers completed the season with a 20-2 record, the best in the in the province.

Not surprisingly, the top four teams from the regular season will compete at the OUA Final Four at the University of Ottawa this weekend. In the semi-finals, the Brock Badgers will take on the hosting Gee-Gees and the Carleton Ravens will take on the aforementioned Lancers, who look to defend their title. OUA supremacy will be decided on March 3 at 8 pm.

The Marauders may have to watch from home, but the promising young squad will surely be motivated to add their name to the marquee at next year's Final Four. And with a solid combination of youth and leadership, the Maroon women might just be the surprise of the OUA come next season.