SUDBURY, Ont. – After all the anticipation, the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks finally made their OUA women's basketball debut on Friday night.
Despite numerous positive stretches throughout the evening, the Ridgebacks fell 68-48 to the Laurentian Voyageurs.
Ontario Tech's first OUA basket in program history was scored by Dalyssa Fleugin (Montreal, Que.), which also happened to be the first of the game. It was the lone lead for the Ridgebacks, who trailed 16-12 after 10 minutes. A rough second quarter saw Laurentian open up an 18 point lead, essentially the gap that stood at the end of the night.
"Now that we've played our first league game we know what to expect next," said Fleurgin. "We know what we need to work on to become a better team and start winning games."
The Ridgebacks continue their opening weekend on Saturday in North Bay when they face the Nipissing Lakers. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Ontario Tech hosts their home opener on November 3 against the Queen's Gaels. Tickets are going fast and can purchased at
www.goridgebacks.com/homeopener.
• Ontario Tech was led by
Vanessa Budimunda's (Montreal, Que.) 10 points on 4-for-9 shooting.
•
Jolesha Allen-Brown (Oshawa, Ont.) and
Alexanne L'Heureux (Mont-Laurier, Que.) scored nine and eight points respectively.
• Laurentian had three scorers in double digits, but Kayla Deschatelets caused the Ridgebacks the most trouble with a game-high 18 points (7-for-13).
• Allen-Brown had a team-high three steals for Ontario Tech, while Budimunda led the Ridgebacks with eight boards (two offensive, six defensive)
• Héléna Lamoureux and Bailey Tabin had a game-high nine boards for the Voyageurs
Overall Record: 0-4
Conference Record: 0-0
Next Game: Saturday, Oct. 26 @ Nipissing Lakers (6 p.m. – North Bay, Ont.)