WBB: Rosenkranz leads Badgers past McMaster in overtime 73-64

HAMILTON, Ont. - The Brock University women's basketball team (12-6 OUA West) defeated the McMaster Marauders (9-8 OUA West) by the score of 73-64 in overtime Wednesday night at the Burridge Gymnasium in Hamilton.

Brock led 17-13 after 10 minutes and found themselves tied at the half 31-31. In a back and forth second half, there were six ties and three lead changes.

With 36 seconds left in regulation, Brock junior forward Nicole Rosenkranz (Niagara Falls, Ont.) came up with a huge block on McMaster's Hailey Milligan to keep it tied 55-55.

With 10.8 seconds left, Brock sophomore Andrea Polischuk (Brantford, Ont.) went one for two from the charity stripe to make it 56-55.

After the Polischuk miss, Emily McKay (Toronto, Ont.) would be called for over the back foul on the Marauders Taylor Chiarot who would go to the line and make one of two tying it 56-56.

Brock senior guard Tara Giallonardo (Fonthill, Ont.) would push the ball up the court and find an open Samantha deJong (St. Catharines, Ont.) who knocked down the 15-footer to put the Badgers up by two 58-56 with 2.8 seconds left.

With less than two seconds left, Milligan would find Chiarot on the inbound pass, who put it in off the glass at the buzzer sending it to overtime. 

In overtime, Brock outscored the Marauders 15-6 on route to the nine-point victory and the season series sweep.

For the Badgers, Rosenkranz led all scorers with a game-high 21 points and 13 rebounds for her seventh double-double of the season. Senior Emily McKay (Toronto, Ont.) added 14 points. Polischuk and Giallonardo chipped in with 11 and nine points respectively in the victory.

McMaster had three players in double figures led by Vanessa Bonomo who recorded 15 points an five assists. Chiarot contributed with a double-double adding 12 points and 10 rebounds. Milligan finished with 12 points and eight rebounds in the loss.

Brock shot 41.4% (24-for-58) from the field and 68.8% (22-for-32) from the charity stripe. McMaster shot just 28.0% (21-for-75) from the field and 58.1% (18-for-31) from the free throw line. The Badgers outrebounded McMaster 45-38, led by the duo of Rosenkranz and deJong who combined for 23 rebounds.

The Badgers next action is Saturday, February 4th when they travel to London to take on the Western University Mustangs.