WBB | Lafond Leads Laurentian to Win and Home Playoff Game
On the final night of the OUA women's basketball regular season, the Laurentian Voyageurs and the Ottawa Gee-Gees met with a home playoff game on the line. The Voyageurs used the momentum of the home crowd to fuel them to an exhilarating 73–54 victory.
Laurentian came out firing, opening on a 13–4 run that included a three-pointer from Audrey-Anne Labreche and forced Ottawa into an early timeout. The Gee-Gees responded immediately, as Allie McCarthy drilled a three out of the break to spark an 11–0 run and give the visitors their first lead of the night.
On her senior night, Megan Axiak answered with a clutch three late in the quarter, and a Madison Peak buzzer-beater gave the Vees a 20–18 edge after one.
The Voyageurs seized control in the second, scoring the first six points of the frame. After nearly three minutes without a basket, McCarthy hit another three to cut into the lead, but Molly Adams quickly responded from beyond the arc. An Ottawa triple from Ivany Rheault-Langué trimmed the Laurentian advantage from 14 to 11 and prompted a timeout from the home side.
The break proved pivotal. Claudia Pellerin knocked down a three as part of a six-point burst to close the half, sending Laurentian into the locker room with a 17-point cushion.
Ottawa briefly cut the deficit to 13 in the third quarter, but the blue and gold remained composed, matching the visitors basket for basket. Laurentian carried a 59–41 lead into the final frame.
The teams traded buckets in the fourth, with the Voyageurs protecting home court en route to the 19-point win, securing the eighth seed in the OUA playoffs.
Emilie Lafond was determined to extend her home career, delivering a dominant senior-night performance with 26 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, and four blocks. Pellerin added 17 points and 12 rebounds in another strong outing.
Laurentian's advantage on the glass and in ball movement proved decisive, as the Voyageurs finished with 15 more rebounds and 12 more assists than Ottawa.
With the regular season complete, Laurentian now turns its attention to hosting a playoff game, which will be Wednesday night against the York Lions, with the time still to be confirmed.
- Olly Sankar