Playoff push

Lacey McNulty wants to take one for the team.

Her right knee wrapped, fears of a torn meniscus or medial collateral ligament in all likelihood a reality, the Belleville native was on the court Thursday, working out her injured leg in hopes of being in the lineup Friday night when the Lakehead Thunderwolves make their final push for a playoff spot in the OUA West.

McNulty, who last season watched the stretch run and playoffs from the sidelines because of a torn Achilles tendon, was injured last weekend against Brock and initially feared her season – and college career – had come to an end.

At practice Thursday she still wasn't sure she'd be able to play, but she planned to play through pain, if possible, to make it happen.

The alternative just isn't acceptable, she said.

"Obviously it would be very devastating, especially with last year not being able to go through playoffs. That's obviously going through my mind again," said McNulty, averaging 8.7 points and 5.3 rebounds a night for the 9-11 Thunderwolves.

"I just want to play a full season and get through it. Obviously I want to be there for my teammates and help win and go on."

She'll do what it takes, she said, when asked how much pain she'll play through to help the Wolves sweep the Gryphons (9-11) and guarantee themselves a playoff spot.

The two teams are tied in the standings, but depending what happens elsewhere, Lakehead can finish as high as fourth and host an opening round playoff game – or seventh and be left to wonder what went wrong.

"As much (pain) as it needs to be," McNulty said. "Whatever I have to do to play, I'll do."

Guard Sierra Guy said everyone on the team is pulling for McNulty to be on court against the Gryphons, but if not, it gives them extra motivation to win an earn her another opportunity to wrap up her career in the lineup and not the sidelines.

"If she doesn't play, we play for her. She's going to try to play, and it's going to be her last games, so we hope that she comes out and plays for us and if she doesn't we've just got to work hard and support one another," Guy said.

Coach Jon Kreiner said if McNulty can't go it's going to mean some adjustments on the floor. Natural replacement Erika French is also out, leaving graduating forward Lindsay Druery Lakehead's best bet down low.

"We're a little bit thin up front and Guelph has a really strong two post players," Kreiner said.

He's not taking any chances though.

"We're going to give it a go and if there's a lot of swelling and a lot of instability – she's willing to go through discomfort and pain – we'll know after tonight."

It could mean opportunities for others to shine, he added.

"We need to have other players to step up. The obvious ones would be Carolyn Fragale, who had a really good weekend this past weekend, and Kelsey (Bardsley) who is starting to play a lot better, though she struggled last Saturday," Kreiner said.

"And we need to have Sierra and Ayse (Kalkan) get back to where they were defensively and with their toughness, rebounding and just their scrappy play and we need to play scrappy this weekend. And we also need to have somebody else step up, like an Ashley Randall or a Lindsay Inkila."

The Wolves face plenty of different playoff scenarios. Only two certainties exist. Two wins over Guelph and they're in; two losses and they're out. A split will depend on the outcomes of other final weekend games.

In that case, all eyes would turn to Saturday afternoon's duel between McMaster and Laurier. A McMaster loss would create a three-way 10-12 tie, which would leave the Wolves on the outside looking in because their combined record against Guelph and McMaster would be 1-3, costing them the tiebreaker.

Beyond the arc: Druery passed the 1,000-point, 800-rebound mark last weekend and she'll be honoured Saturday as she plays her final regular season game in a Thunderwolves uniform ... Game time Friday and Saturday night at the Thunderdome is 6 p.m. The men will follow each night ... The Wolves women are 2-6 down the stretch.