The Laurier Golden Hawks women’s basketball team dropped a 77-47 decision to the Brock Badgers on Alumni Night on 02/13/26 at the Laurier Athletic Complex, in a game where offensive rhythm proved difficult to find for both sides.
With former players and a past head coach in attendance, both teams opened the game with uneven stretches offensively. However, Brock capitalized more effectively on Laurier’s turnovers and defensive breakdowns, building momentum early and maintaining control throughout the contest.
Brock jumped out to a 17-4 lead by the end of the first quarter after forcing several Golden Hawks turnovers and converting in transition. Laurier struggled to find rhythm on offence, shooting just 2-of-13 from the field in the opening frame while missing all eight of its three-point attempts.
The Golden Hawks showed some improvement in the second quarter as Keira Aikman, a third-year guard in Kinesiology, and Kate White, a fourth-year guard in Social Sciences, each knocked down three-pointers to help Laurier produce 14 points in the frame. Still, Brock remained composed offensively and entered halftime ahead 32-18.
While both teams experienced offensive lapses throughout the night, Laurier’s difficulty generating consistent playmaking proved particularly costly. The Golden Hawks struggled to create clean shot opportunities and were limited to just four three-pointers on 28 attempts.
Aikman led Laurier offensively with 16 points on 6-of-13 shooting while adding seven rebounds. Kayleigh Rawson, a fourth–year forward in Kinesiology, contributed seven points and six rebounds off the bench, and Brittyn Graves, a first-year guard in Kinesiology, added eight points.
Laurier also received defensive contributions from White, who recorded four steals, while Isabella Cotton, a fourth-year guard in Kinesiology, led the team with four assists.
One player who stood out despite limited minutes was Martina Errazo, a third-year guard in Economics. Errazo helped space the floor and played her role effectively as a perimeter guard, providing composure in Laurier’s half-court sets and creating better spacing when on the court.
On the other side, Brock’s offence was powered by one of the OUA’s top players. Madalyn Weinert, a fifth-year guard/forward in Medical Sciences, recorded a dominant double-double with 22 points and 13 rebounds. Weinert entered the season as the reigning OUA Player of the Year and a U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian after leading the country with 21.8 points per game during the 2024-25 campaign.
Her presence inside proved difficult for Laurier to contain, particularly on the glass, where Brock held a decisive 42-26 rebounding advantage.
The Badgers also received a strong performance from Shailah Adams, a third-year guard in Kinesiology, who finished with 20 points while hitting four three-pointers. Adams showcased her versatility as a combo guard, creating her own scoring opportunities while also setting up teammates with strong court vision.
Brock pulled away in the fourth quarter, shooting 64.3 per cent from the field in the final frame to secure the 30-point victory.
Although the season did not unfold the way Laurier fans may have hoped, finishing the 2025-26 regular season with a 6-16 record and placing fifth in the OUA West division, Laurier capped off the campaign with an 82-70 Valentine’s Day victory over the York Lions at the Laurier Athletic Complex.
For first-year head coach Megan Reid, the season also provided an opportunity to better understand her roster and the leadership emerging within the team. Reid, who became the 12th head coach in program history after longtime bench boss Paul Falco retired following 17 seasons, highlighted the collective voice developing in the locker room.
“It’s not one voice, it’s all four voices,” Reid said. “When you have glue, you have energy, you have accountability, that’s leadership.”
Brock, meanwhile, concluded the season second in the OUA Central division with a 14-8 record before beginning its playoff run. The Badgers opened the postseason with a 76-63 victory over McMaster in the OUA First Round before falling 83-77 to Windsor in the quarterfinals.
Although Laurier’s season ended outside the playoff picture, the young Golden Hawks roster showed flashes of promise throughout the year, particularly through developing guards and emerging contributors who will look to build momentum heading into next season.
Contributed Photo/Nate Dawes
