THUNDER BAY – While not wanting to take the last-place Waterloo Warriors for granted, this weekend’s two-game set was all about getting ready for upcoming series against Windsor and McMaster.
The three teams are tied atop the OUA West at 12-4, Lakehead keeping pace on Saturday night with a 71-46 triumph, led by Leashja Grant’s 15th double-double in 16 games.
Grant, who had her 14-game streak stopped in Friday night’s lopsided win, finished with 25 points and 15 boards, about average for the Bahamian import in 2017-18.
But Grant, who had two or three Warriors defenders draped all over her most of the night, needs help if the Wolves hope to turn their breakout campaign into something special when the OUA women’s basketball playoffs roll around next month.
They need other players to step up to take the pressure off Grant.
Veteran Bridget O’Reilly might factor heavily into that equation.
The first to admit she’s struggled at times this season, O’Reilly had a hot hand on Saturday night, hitting 6-of-11 three-pointers as the Thunderwolves were able to stretch the court and make the Waterloo defence think twice about paying too much attention to Grant, the OUA’s leading scorer and rebounder.
O’Reilly has hit double figures in three of her past four games and her confidence is as high as it’s been all season long.
“I know I’m putting a lot more time in the gym trying to fix that shot. It’s one of the thing I can contribute to the team … But even when my shot’s not going well, I’m trying to do the other things on the court, things like rebounding and that,” O’Reilly said.
“Coach gets on my back a lot about that because I struggle with that. It’s just doing those little things that I need to do to contribute to the team.”
Lakehead coach Jon Kreiner laid it out plainly – it can’t be all Grant, all the time. The better OUA teams will adapt.
Seeing O’Reilly step up is a great sign, he said.
“We need that against the big teams. She’s been inconsistent this season, for sure, this year. But now that’s two out of three games. It’s nice to see. If she’d get in there and do a few other things like rebound and defend, get some blocked shots, screen and get someone like Leashja open are things that are important when she’s not hitting – and when she is hitting,” Kreiner said.
Unlike Friday night, when the Wolves raced out to a 14-2 lead and won by 27, the Warriors had a little more fight in the rematch, at least for the opening five minutes.
The two teams traded the lead on the first five baskets, but after Hilary Ferguson edged the Warriors in front 5-4, the Thunderwolves took control, rolling off 20 straight points before Ferguson ended the run. But the damage had been done by then. Lakehead took a 41-18 lead into the half and despite a slight third-quarter hiccup, continued to pour it on in the fourth, with Grant on the bench for the final six-and-a-half minutes.
Lily Gruber-Schulz had 11 for Lakehead, while Jerika Baldin chipped in 10 assists, hitting double digits for the second straight night.
Ann Stewart had 11 for Waterloo (1-15).
