Wolves women earn weekend split with Laurier

Carolyn Fragale had 16 points, including a pair of crucial free throws down the stretch, helping the Lakehead Thunderwolves scratch out a weekend split against the Laurier Golden Hawks.

The Wolves, who led by as many as 14 in the second half, held on against a determined Laurier squad, and improved to 7-5 with the 65-61 win.

LU pulled away in the second quarter, taking a 36-26 lead into halftime.

McNulty and Lindsay Druery, who finished with 14, make back-to-back lay-ups off Sierra Guy passes to go up 42-28 early in the third, but Laura Doyle and Alena Luciani nailed three-pointers, cutting the LU lead to 42-38.

Doyle would finish with 13, tied with Felicia Mazerole for tops on the team.

Fragale answered with a three, but the Golden Hawks (8-4) kept the pressure on and trailed 47-42 after three.

Christa Mancino threw up a prayer midway through the final quarter that got the Hawks to within a point, but the Wolves had the answer.
Druery, who missed a pair of open chances underneath, made good on her third attempt and the lead was three again.

Back and forth they went, Lakehead's lead reaching as high as five, but never less than one.

Kimberly Yeldon had a chance to tie it for Laurier, with 1:56 to go, but could only hit one of two shots from the line.

Sierra Guy, whose shot was off all night, finally hit her first basket with 90 seconds left, giving LU a 61-58 lead.

After turning the ball over Fragale was fouled and went to the line, sinking both shots that appeared to put the game out of reach with time running down.

But Shelby Kurt, a potential OUA West rookie of the year, buried a quick three and the Hawks trailed by two, with 1.7 seconds left.

But time ran out on Laurier's comeback bid.

The Wolves return home next weekend to take on McMaster.