THUNDER BAY – Jerika Baldin and Bridget O’Reilly aren’t done yet.
But they began saying their goodbyes on Saturday night.
The Lakehead Thunderwolves seniors, along with injured forwards Katelyn Andrea and August Rickets, were celebrated after their 62-59 win over the visiting Laurier Golden Hawks that closed out regular-season play, recognized for their contributions to the team’s success over the years.
The duo still has work to do, the Wolves set to open the playoffs on Wednesday at home against the same Golden Hawks squad.
But it didn’t stop them from reflecting a little on their careers.
Baldin, one of the best passers and team leaders to step on the court in team history, called it an emotional night.
“It’s nice to have everyone’s family in the crowd cheering us on. Having another home playoff game after made it a little less emotional I think, because we know we play at home again and we know we’re still in it,” said Baldin, who led the league averaging 5.3 assists per game and finished with seven points and four helpers in the finale.
O’Reilly, who watched three previous senior night ceremonies, said the end is still over the horizon and the focus is on the postseason.
“But it’s definitely emotional. It’s nice to have the family and everybody here,” said O’Reilly, whose contingent during the ceremony was easily the largest.
“Especially the girls that I’m graduating with, I’ve been with them all four years. It’s really exciting to be able to do it with them.”
O’Reilly, who was LU’s second-leading scorer in 2017-18, collected eight points on the night and said it’s the people she’ll miss most.
“I’ve learned a lot from every single player and every single coach. That’s the best part of my years,” she said.
Coach Jon Kreiner said the night was made even better because the Thunderwolves (16-8) were able to eke out the win, the team’s fourth straight.
“It’s nice when senior night follows a win, it’s a lot easier,” he said. “To have our team step us a whole and do what they did tonight was really big. It’s nice for them to play for our seniors. It was emotional especially because we have two of our senior players who can’t continue on.”
Andrea, the homegrown star, missed most of this season with a knee injury, returning to play three games before another injury forced her to the sidelines for good. Ricketts sustained a concussion more than a year ago and hasn’t played since.
“That was hard, but overall I think it was a really great night,” Kreiner said.
Lakehead led by one after a low-scoring first quarter, and tripled their lead by halftime, taking a 23-20 advantage into the break.
It would fall back to one in the third, the Golden Hawks jumping in front by five at one point when Maya Day drained a three. LU escaped the frame up 44-43, tying the game on a Kielly McDonough three-pointer with two minutes to go.
They’d never trail in the fourth.
Leashja Grant added to her USports rebounding record she set on Friday night, hauling in 20 boards to go with 16 points, which tied her with Lily Grube-Schulz for the team lead. Grant finished with 338 rebounds, shattering Sarah Wiecz’s record of 307.
Laurier’s fifth-year guard, Nicole Morrison, led all players with 21 points.
The Wolves and Golden Hawks open the playoffs on Wednesday night, tip-off scheduled for 7 p.m.
