[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/DeGroot_Lindsay.jpg” caption=”Lindsay DeGroot had a double-double on her way to being named Player of the Game in the OUA Championship. Photo by Cam Dunlop.”]The No. 2 McMaster Marauders claimed their second OUA women's basketball crown in three seasons with a 69-59 victory over the No. 8 Varsity Blues in front of a packed house full of enthusiastic fans on Saturday evening at the U of T Sports Gym.

The first quarter was very intense and closely played. The Marauders jumped out to an early lead on a Taylor Smith basket and went up 4-0 at 8:36. Jessica Hiew put the Blues on the board and at 7:40 Amanda Van Leeuwen tied the score at 4-4. Laila Bellony put Toronto up at 5:53. A pair of Lindsay DeGroot free throws tied it up for the Marauders. Taylor Chiarot gave McMaster the lead, but the Blues tied it again at 8-8.

This set the pattern for the next few minutes. One team would get the lead, then the other would tie it up. At 2:21, the score was 12-12. At 2:01, Deanna Hollinger stole the ball and converted it for a lay up that restored the McMaster lead — a lead they would hold until the end of the game. McMaster went ahead 16-12, but a Christine Cho 3 with 4 seconds left made the score at the first quarter buzzer McMaster 16, Toronto 15.

The Marauders started the second quarter with a 6-0 run on a basket from Rachel Hart and a pair from Chiara Rocca to make the score 22-15 at 7:34. The Blues got their first basket at 6:48, but had trouble controlling the Marauders as they interspersed modest scoring runs between the few Toronto baskets. McMaster had their first double digit lead of 30-19 at 3:59 and outscored the Blues 4-2 in the remaining time to make the score at half time McMaster 34, Toronto 21.

The Blues hit the scoreboard first in the third quarter on a 3 from Cho at 9:43. DeGroot replied for McMaster at 9:25. That began the highest scoring quarter of the game as each team showed they were determined to come away with the Championship banner.

The Marauder lead hovered around the 10-point mark for most of the quarter, occasionally getting up to 12 points. At this point, the Blues found their scoring rhythm and a 5-0 run cut the score to 47-40 by 4:14. Toronto could not get any closer and the quarter ended with McMaster leading 53-44.

Kyla Burwash scored first for Toronto in the fourth quarter. A 6-0 run for McMaster, starting with a single free throw from Hollinger, a field goal from Rocca and a 3 from Hollinger restored the Marauders' double-digit lead to 59-46 at 8:23.

Then it was Toronto's turn. Their 6-0 run brought the score to 59-52 in favour of the Marauders at 5:54. The Marauders responded with their own run, this time 5 straight points to go ahead 64-54 at 3:31. The Blues cut the gap to 7 points, 65-58, with 1:32 left, but could not get any closer as the Marauders executed their spread offence beautifully to kill the clock and secure the 69-59 victory.

An aggressive Marauder defence kept Toronto in check throughout the game, tallying seven blocks and 13 steals. McMaster also held a 45-37 edge in team rebounds.

McMaster's Lindsay DeGroot, the 2007-08 OUA West Player of the Year, led her squad with a 16-point and 14-rebound double-double performance, earning Player of the Game honours. Taylor Smith finished with 13 points and 5 assists. Hollinger with 11 points and Rocca with 10 were the other Marauders in double digits. Rachel Hart, the OUA West Defensive Player of the Year, shut down Toronto's OUA East first team all-star Cho, who finished with 10 points for the Blues.

After the game, the Marauders were presented with the OUA Championship banner and trophy for the second time in three seasons.

Both teams will now advance to the CIS championship tournament hosted by the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon from March 7 to 9.