Gryphon hoops women hit early to topple Laurentian

GUELPH – The Guelph Gryphons opened their OUA women’s basketball league preseason with an 87-50 drubbing of the Laurentian Voyageurs Friday night at the Guelph Gryphons Athletic Centre.

The Gryphs came out determined to put their stamp on the game early and they dominated the opening quarter as they led 21-11 at the end of the quarter after taking 26 shots, 12 more than Laurentian.

Guelph Gryphons 87 Laurentian Voyageurs 50

Guelph led 44-26 at the intermission and 70-39 after the third quarter.

Both teams used plenty of players in the match as 11 Gryphs saw court time while Laurentian used 15 players.

Burke Bechard led the Gryphs with 17 points and seven rebounds while Renee Armstrong had 14 points and six rebounds and MacKeely Shantz and Julia Colavecchia each had 11 points while Colavecchia also hauled down seven rebounds.

Emilie Lafond had 14 points, the lone Voyageur in double digits in scoring. Sydney Tabin had 10 rebounds.

The Gryphs shot 36 percent on field goals, 26 percent on three-pointers and 57 percent on free throws. Laurentian shot 35 percent on field goals, 24 percent on three-pointers and 50 percent on free throws.

The locals made the Voyageurs pay for their miscues as they scored 21 points off turnovers and also had 18 second-chance points and 28 points from their bench.

Laurentian had seven points off turnovers, 11 second-chance points and 22 points from their bench.

Next preseason match for the Gryphs is set for Oct. 23 when they’re to tangle with the Toronto Varsity Blues at Toronto starting at 1 p.m.

• Guelph Sports Journal