Slow start cost Mac points

Ben Orr

Sports Editor

Consistency continues to be elusive for the McMaster women in the early stages of their OUA season.

The Marauders played to yet another weekend split, losing to Queen's on Nov. 25 before rebounding against RMC the next night.

They continue to stay glued to a .500 record at 3-3, good enough for six points and fourth place in the OUA West division. However, with division leaders Brock sprinting out to a 6-0 record, the Maroon and Grey will need to find their rhythm soon if they wish to compete for a division crown.

Mac began the weekend against the Queen's Gaels, who came into the game with a 3-1 record and a whole lot of offensive firepower. The Gaels dominated early, scoring 29 points in the first quarter alone. They would take a 49-29 lead into half thanks in part to their effective 58 per cent shooting from the field.

The second half would see much of the same, as the Marauders struggled to get anything going against a stingy Queen's defence. Shooting an impressive 63 per cent from three-point land, the Gaels would cruise to a 94-65 win.  McMaster coach Theresa Burns was not thrilled with her team's effort.

“We just mentally weren't there from the start. We let them get very comfortable, and they just took off and we couldn't reel it in.”

Against the Paladins, the Marauders came out flat again, falling behind 16-13 early. McMaster appeared to be shell-shocked, as the deficit increased to 31-24 by halftime.

The second half, however, was the Taylor Chariot show. The fifth-year senior and team captain would take charge, leading her team back to the lead in the third quarter. The nail was hammered into the coffin as the Marauders outscored the Paladins 20-8 in the fourth quarter, taking the game by a final score of 61-48.

Chariot would go on to score a game-high 27 points, adding eight rebounds for good measure. Isabel Ormond was also effective for her team, finishing two boards and a basket away from a double-double.

“It was pretty disappointing. Not what we were looking for out of the weekend,” said Burns sum up the road trip.

“Against RMC I thought our first half was not a great effort either, so we definitely looking for a better effort right from tip off in any of the games we play and hopefully we have that this weekend, because we've got two tough games coming up.”

The Marauders will host the Toronto Varsity Blues and the Ryerson Rams at Burridge Gym. Burns knows something will have to change to collect four points this weekend.

“We're not playing consistently, we're not putting a 40 minute game together, we're not putting two back-to-back good games together,” said the Mac bench boss.

“Not to make excuses but we still haven't had a full lineup out on the floor yet, we've had various people in and out of the lineup with injuries. I think we're got such a young lineup that when you take that experience out there's just not enough experience at this level to be able to put that consistent play together.”

Still, the coach praised the efforts of Chariot, who carried her team on her back in Kingston.

“Against RMC I don't think Taylor had a great start for what she's capable of doing. At half time we regrouped the whole team and I think she realized she had to step up. On any given night she can take over a game when she wants to. That's what she's capable of doing.”