The Windsor Lancers opened their playoff run with an impressive 96-42 home win over the Lakehead Thunderwolves Wednesday night.
 
The blue and gold struggled to find a rhythm in the opening minutes, but once they did they never looked back, running away with the game. The win moves the Lancers into the OUA quarter finals on Saturday against the Brock Badgers on the road.
 
GAME STATS
Kayah Clarke led all scorers on the night with 21 points on 62 per cent shooting. Clarke also led the rebounding battle with seven boards.
 
The Thunderwolves were led by Nikki Ylagan who scored eight points, and defensively by Lily Gruber-Schulz with four rebounds.
 
The Lancers had an outstanding night from distance, making 57 per cent of their long range looks, while the Thunderwolves were held without a three point make on the night.
 
GAME FLOW
The blue and gold got out to a slow start on offence but made up for it with physical defence early on. With their shots not falling early, the Lancers struggled to produce offence in the paint, leading the Thunderwolves just 8-7 halfway through the first frame. Late in the first though Clarke caught fire, nailing three consecutive triples. After one quarter, Clarke had accounted for 13 of the Lancers 20 points and was integral in building a 20-9 lead.
 
The second quarter was much better for the Lancers offensively, as they were shooting 49 per cent from the field and blanking the Thunderwolves from deep. Windsor's hot shooting was punctuated by a Harriet Carey corner three to end the half, giving the Lancers a 42-23 lead over Lakehead.
 
The third quarter was more of the same as Windsor stayed in rhythm after the halftime break. After a quiet first half, Erin Kenny came alive, giving the Lancers another hot shooter to space the floor with. With seemingly every Lancer getting hot from the three, the Lakehead defence began to crack as the blue and gold extended their lead. The Lancers shot an absurd 86 per cent from behind the three point line in the third, once again punctuated by Harriet Carey nailing a deep one as time expired, 75-31 Lancers.
 
Though the Thunderwolves gained some ground in the fourth, the Lancers held on for the 96-42 win.
 
QUOTE FROM THE COACH
"We like to come up and address every game we play as a team," explained head coach Chantal Vallée, who's team had everyone score at least one basket. "Everybody has a role, everybody is important. When asked to play, I trust everyone will bring their best performance. Everyone that was asked to play today, played well."

UP NEXT
The Lancers move on to take on the Brock Badgers in the OUA quarter-finals in St. Catharine's on Saturday, February 22nd at 7:30 p.m. on www.OUA.tv.
 
Fans looking to make the trip to the game, can purchase their tickets in advance at https://brocku.universitytickets.com/w/default.aspx.