Ottawa, Ont - The Algonquin Wolves women's basketball team improved to 6–3 on the season with a road win over the Durham Lords on Friday night.
Algonquin defeated the Lords 61–44 back on October 31st, but it was clear early on that this would be a much tighter contest. Both teams struggled to find any offensive rhythm, with the Wolves holding just a 7–1 lead with three minutes left in the opening quarter. That's when Cooper Drover knocked down a three-pointer, followed by a baseline layup from Leah Hirst, which allowed the Wolves to get some separation. Algonquin closed the quarter up 13–5.
Durham's offense came to life in the second quarter, opening the frame on a 10–1 run to take a 15–14 lead. The Wolves went ice cold from the floor, shooting just 4-for-19 in the quarter. Leah Hirst kept Algonquin in it, drilling back-to-back threes to help the Wolves stay within striking distance. Despite Durham shooting 44% from the field and 50% from three in the quarter, Algonquin was able to weather the storm and take a slim 24–21 lead into halftime.
The Wolves' defense stepped up in the third quarter, cooling off the red-hot Lords by holding them to just 15% shooting in the quarter. Unfortunately, Algonquin didn't fare much better offensively, shooting just 25% themselves. Taryn Mitchell and Cianah Miller each chipped in five points in the quarter, and the Wolves carried a narrow 37–35 lead into the fourth.
Algonquin's offense finally broke through in the final frame, led by Taryn Mitchell and Meaghan McNamara, who each scored seven points in the quarter. The Wolves continued to lock in defensively and controlled the glass, out-rebounding Durham 14–7 in the quarter. That combination allowed Algonquin to pull away and cruise to a 58–44 victory, improving to 6–3 on the season.
Despite the offensive struggles for much of the night, several Wolves turned in impressive performances. Taryn Mitchell recorded another double-double, finishing with 15 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and six steals. Leah Hirst also had a strong outing, scoring a season-high 14 points while adding four assists and two rebounds. Meaghan McNamara had an efficient night, going 2-for-2 from beyond the arc to finish with eight points, two rebounds, and one block.