The Lakehead Thunderwolves women's basketball team showed sometimes a strong finish can make the biggest difference.
Thunderwolves guard Katie Ulakovic scored the game-winning layup with just 3.5 seconds remaining in regulation as Lakehead erased an early 19-point deficit for a 65-63 victory over the Toronto Varsity Blues in Ontario university basketball at the Thunderdome on Friday evening.
The visitors jumped out to a 20-1 lead after the first four minutes to put the Thunderwolves in dire straits.
However, Lakehead remained calm and capitalized on free throw opportunities by going 12-of-15 from the charity stripe to trim the deficit to a single point by halftime, where Toronto led 32-31.
The Thunderwolves came out blazing to start the second half, opening on a 17-3 run for a commanding lead. After losing a large early lead, Toronto refused to go away without a fight.
The Varsity Blues were able to bring the contest even in the final minute, before Ulakovic drove left and finished with the winning score.
The senior from Thunder Bay finished with 14 points. Ayse Kalkin led Lakehead with 17 points, and rookie Katelyn Andrea snagged a game-high 10 boards.
Toronto's Liane Bailey picked up 17 points to go along with 8 rebounds, and Jill Stratton registered 16 points and 7 rebounds.
Lakehead (4-3) will take on the Ryerson Rams at the Thunderdome at 6 p.m. on Saturday.
