By Daniella Lopez
The Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold women’s basketball team extended their winning streak to three games with a 71-70 win over the York Lions at the Mattamy Athletic Centre (MAC) on Saturday afternoon.
“I thought that was a really big win,” said head coach Carly Clarke. “[We] kept our composure and it demonstrates the growth we’ve had.”
The Bold came out swinging against the Lions by going on a 7-0 run to start the game. York’s first points came at the 7:07 mark with a three by Jada Codrington.
The Bold forced an early Lions timeout with 6:16 left in the quarter as TMU led 12-3. The Lions capitalized on it and went on a 9-0 run to tie the game at 12 with 3:11 left in the first. The two teams kept it close for the rest of the quarter as the Bold led 19-16 at the end of the opening 10 minutes.
During the second quarter, both teams got off to a sluggish start. TMU’s Haley Fedick made a much-needed three-pointer to give the Bold a four-point lead with 8:57 left in the quarter.
Fedick finished the game with a double-double: 16 points and 11 rebounds on 6-11 shooting.
With 2:24 left in the second quarter, York cut TMU’s lead to three. However, big plays by Tiya Misir, Rachel Farwell and Fedick grew the Bold’s lead to 10 points with 45 seconds left in the second. Fedick hit a three to put the Bold up 43-32 at halftime as the buzzer went off.
To begin the third quarter, both teams missed easy shots and free throws. They both committed turnovers early in the quarter. TMU finished the game with 23 turnovers compared to York’s 20.
“Credit to York, they apply a lot of pressure. I thought we had a little bit of fatigue today, but despite that, to come out with a victory is positive,” Clarke said.
Midway through the third, York began storming back. They went on a quick 5-0 run to cut TMU’s lead to two points. But TMU responded with a three by Jayme Foreman at the 5:14 mark.
Foreman finished the game with 16 points on four made threes.
“With this team and with Carly giving me the freedom to shoot my shots, it comes naturally to me,” said Foreman. “When I’m shooting I don’t see if someone is in front of me, I’m just taking the shot. It feels really good to be making them.”
TMU began the fourth quarter with a six-point lead. Immediately, York forced two shot-clock violations early on in the quarter and went on a 6-2 run. Throughout the rest of the fourth, the teams went back and forth.
With 1:43 left in the game, York held a 66-65 lead and quickly widened the gap to three points. Farwell hit a crucial three with 51 seconds left to tie the game at 68 points.
“That’s a moment where you got to exhale and trust your muscle memory,” said Farewell. “And a little bit of a shooter bounce which I’ll happily take.”
Following the play, Farwell was fouled and made one-of-two shots from the free throw line to put the Bold up by one.
With 10 seconds remaining, Foreman was fouled and made both free throws to put TMU up by three points.
“The line is one of the places where I’m calm and I didn’t think about the consequences of missing or making [them],” said Foreman.
The Bold have now won six of their last seven games and are over .500 for the first time this season.
“I think we’re figuring out who we are as a team,” said Clarke. “People are becoming more and more comfortable in their roles and what’s expected of them. Our lineup has changed but we’re continuing to adapt.”
UP NEXT: TMU faces the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks in Waterloo on Jan. 14. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.
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