USports Yearbook: Nipissing Lakers vs Laurier Golden Hawks, 11/15/19
The USports Yearbook is an on-going series looking back at some of the best basketball games played by Canadian college teams in the 2019-20.
One of which came early on and saw the Nipissing Lakers and Laurier Golden Hawks of the Ontario University Athletics region so evenly matched the outcome was impossible to predict until the very end.
The season was still young, but Nipissing were looking to change their fortunes having lost their last three games, while Laurier were hoping to stay on course and make it three wins in a row for them.
Kylea Galipeau Wilson put up the first points for the Lakers. After which, three lead changes followed and Laurier went on a 6-0 run, which saw them go up by seven. Two three pointers from Nipissing gave them the lead back, until Laurier's Jill Condron made it a one point game.
Thaliyah Phillips made Nipissing's lead stand at three at the first quarter buzzer. After which, Laurier's three-point shooting unit put them in front for much of the way through the following period.
Nipissing were able to complete an 8-0 run in heated defence, Maya Day responded for Laurier, making the gap stand at just two points at the half.
Despite Maria Walsh and Natalie Martinez leading Nipissing's scoring from beyond the arc, Laurier were able to stay within two points. Jill Condron then began an 11-0 scoring run for the Golden Hawks, which saw them up 44-37.
Nipissing's Brianna Dodd tried to close the gap with a three but one on the other end from Maya Day gave Laurier a seven-point advantage heading into the final period of regulation. That lead grew to double digits when play resumed, with Kate Moran trying to make it more.
Events got most heated in the last two minutes: threes from Dodd, Walsh and Martinez for the Lakers made it a two-point game, even with Moran and Brianna Iannazzo proving solid from the free-throw line.
The most dramatic moment came at the very end of regulation, where Natalie Martinez made a jump shot at the death for Nippissing, tying the scores and forcing play to continue.
In overtime the teams began by exchanging baskets and drawing fouls, neither really able to break away. With less than a minute to go Walsh put Nipissing up by two, while also fouling Iannazzo and Condron, who both made one free-throw each, and again the game was tied.
Natalie Martinez put up a three with the last play of OT, but it fell short and a second extra period was required - one that would be just as tight-knit as everything that had preceded.
After seeing Walsh put Nipissing up one, Condron responded with four in a row and Laurier were up three with 1:30 to go. Walsh responded in kind with another three but almost immediately, on the other end, Alliasen Miscione levelled the scoreline.
The deciding play of the game would be a Maria Walsh foul on Brianna Iannazzo, she went to the line and made both free-throws, Laurier were up by two with eight seconds left. Once again Natalie Martinez had the last look of the game, for the second time it fell short, just when Nipissing did not want it to.
There was some small comfort for the Lakers: Maria Walsh was the game's leading scorer with 21 points while Natalie Martinez had 17 of her own. Kate Moran impressed off the Laurier bench with 13 points and 10 total boards, with Brianna Ianazzo scoring 18 and Jill Condron leading her team with 19 in the Golden Eagles' 75-73 double overtime victory over Nipissing.
Following on from this win Laurier had the better season remainder: finishing with a record that earned them a place in the OUA playoffs, but were eliminated in the first round by Queen's.
