By Ethan Clarke

The Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold women’s basketball team delivered a dominant performance in a blowout 34-63 win over the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks on Saturday night at the Mattamy Athletic Centre, extending their winning streak to a record seven games against Ontario Tech.

Fourth-year forward Jessica Keripe opened the scoring by muscling her way to the basket, setting the tone early. The Bold looked in rhythm from the opening minutes, highlighted by a single possession that featured three consecutive offensive rebounds by three different players, eventually leading to a basket from fourth-year guard Myriam Kone. That relentless effort sparked an 8–0 run to start the game.

Ontario Tech responded with physical play as both teams battled through contact with fouls, dives for loose balls and blocks in the paint on both ends. TMU’s commitment to crashing the glass quickly became a defining theme. An offensive rebound from third-year forward Hailey Franco DeRyck following a missed three from third-year guard Catrina Garvey led to another Kone bucket.

TMU finished the night with 18 offensive rebounds, turning them into 12 second-chance points.

Head coach Carly Clarke pointed to that effort as a difference-maker but stressed the importance of capitalizing on those chances. 

“Really important. I thought we didn’t make shots, but we’re not expecting to make every shot,” Clarke said. “Our relentless effort on the offensive boards is important to get a second chance and draw some fouls.”

Keripe continued to assert herself inside, converting after another sequence of multiple offensive rebounds, as The Bold carried an 11-point lead into the end of the first quarter.

The Bold opened the second quarter with a three-pointer from first-year guard Ella McDonald off quick ball movement, while fifth-year forward Eternati Willock anchored the defensive end with a key block. Ontario Tech attempted to close the gap with tough buckets from third-year guard Adra Barnet but Kone answered with a deep three to push the lead to 32–16.

TMU came out of halftime firing once again, as Garvey scored on a layup on the opening possession of the third quarter. The Bold continued to dominate the offensive glass, generating multiple second-chance opportunities. A steal by Franco DeRyck led to a Kone three, followed by consecutive fast-break scores from Kone after heavy defensive pressure half-court.

Clarke praised her team’s mentality despite the growing margin.

“Regardless of opponents, [we focus] on the next possession and being our best every single possession,” Clarke said. “You only get so many games to prep, you only get so many reps to get better, so [we] really just focused on making the most of every single session.”

Willock later found Garvey cutting to the basket from the top of the key for an easy layup. Ontario Tech showed signs of life late in the third quarter with a 9–5 run, led by fifth-year guard Felicity Villarin but TMU quickly responded. A steal by fourth-year guard Zoe Idahosa led to a fast-break eurostep finish from Kone, and after a missed free throw from Willock, Idahosa converted the putback to close the quarter.

The Bold continued to roll in the fourth quarter, opening with a three from McDonald and allowing Ontario Tech to score just seven points in the final frame.

With the game well in hand, TMU was able to give minutes to different players— an opportunity Clarke welcomed.

“We’ve had a tough couple of weeks, so it was nice to be able to roll some different bodies out there,” Clarke said. “A lot of people have been working hard to be ready, and I thought we saw that hard work has paid off and that people are ready.”

UP NEXT: The Bold play the University of Guelph Gryphons on Feb. 6 at the Guelph Gryphons Athletic Centre, with tip-off set for 6 p.m.