THUNDER BAY – Tiffany Reynolds says if you're not winning, you're learning.
The fourth-year Lakehead Thunderwolves guard and her teammates learned a few lessons on Friday night, surrendering a six-point lead late in the fourth quarter and dropping a 61-58 home-court decision to the unbeaten Western Mustangs.
Reynolds, who finished with a game-high 18 points, along with seven rebounds and six assists, said it was a tough loss, but one they should be able to bounce back from, knowing how strong they played against one of the highest scoring teams in Ontario University Athletics.
“Today was just a learning lesson, right? Tomorrow, that definitely won't happen. We went in the change room, we talked. We played great defence all game. We did as best as we could on offence. It was just a little lull with their offensive boards. Tomorrow we're just going to capitalize on that and make sure that doesn't happen,” Reynolds said.
Up 56-50, The Wolves got a little sloppy with the ball, allowing back-to-back buckets by Ashley Wheeler and rookie Madlyn Picton, who tied Reynolds's 18-point total on the night.
After failing to score on their next possession, the Thunderwolves gave up four straight offensive rebounds to the unranked Mustangs (5-0), the ball dished out to Picton beyond the arc.
Picton fired and hit nothing but net and Western was in front 57-56 with three minutes to go in regulation.
Sarah Harvey added another basket, off another offensive rebound – one of 18 by the Mustangs on the night – upping the Western lead to three.
Reynolds drove the lane to cut the lead to one, but after stopping Western on their next possession, Lakehead coach Jon Kreiner called a timeout, which shortened the shot clock to 14 seconds – and the Wolves couldn't get a shot u in time.
Picton hit a pair of threes and restored the three-point advantage with 3.8 seconds left and the Thunderwolves were unable to hit the game-tying shot to send it to overtime.
Lakehead was playing shorthanded once again, with all-star guard Sofia Lluch on a personal leave from the team and rookie guard Paula Lopez, who made her LU debut last weekend on the road at Laurier, out until after the looming Christmas break after re-injuring her knee. Guard Kaylah Lewis is also sidelined by injury.
“I'm just proud of how our girls battled here tonight,” Kreiner said.
“They're a big team. I've got to watch video. I think part of it was we weren't getting the same looks we were getting and they were getting better looks in the second half, especially in the fourth quarter. We've got to take care of the ball, make sure we're getting good looks, which is tough against this team.”
Reynolds was the beneficiary of the good looks in the opening quarter, scoring four straight baskets to turn a 10-7 deficit into a 15-10 lead. She only managed four points after the break.
The game also marked the return of forward August Ricketts to the C.J. Sanders Fieldhouse, four seasons after last suiting up for the Thunderwolves at home. The veteran, who rejoined the team last weekend to help Kreiner fill some of his injury gaps, finished with two points and six rebounds.
It's great to have her back, Reynolds said.
“It's been so long,” she said. “I remember coming in my first year and she had her senior's night. She didn't even play. And now she's back. I'm loving it. She works so hard in the paint, which is what I love about her the most.”
Lakehead (1-6) and Western will tangle again on Saturday night, the final game of the opening half of the season.
