Early seasons struggles continue for McMaster

McMaster ended up on the wrong end of a back-and-forth game against the Ottawa Gee-Gees, losing 82-55.

In the first road game of the season, the Marauders women’s basketball team were up against last year’s OUA Champions. Ottawa is fielding a much different team this year with a number of key players graduating, including CIS Player of the Year, Hannah Sunley-Paisley.

But the Gee-Gees retooled team came out with intensity in their home opener, starting the game with a 29-point quarter. Jenna Gilbert, a fifth-year forward, led the team offensively with a mix of play in the paint and on the perimeter. Mac had no answer for the 6-footer, who finished with a game-high 17 points.

Defensively, the Marauders put up an hard-nosed effort in the second, allowing only eight points to cool off the Gee-Gee attack.

Maroon guards Danielle Boiago and Isabel Ormond were able to force tipped passes and loose balls on the press but their half-court defense would not be enough to stop a polished Ottawa offense.

Veteran play was missing from McMaster tonight, with Hailey Milligan logging only 15 minutes in the losing effort. Foul trouble was not an issue for the forward, who finished with two on the night.

Mac is showing early season blues, with the team showing promise sporadically through their first three games. The bright spot of the game for McMaster was outscoring the team who was a vote shy of making the CIS top-ten rankings.

The path forward only gets tougher from here, with the Marauders taking on the No. 4 Carleton Ravens tomorrow night.