'Flip the page on last season' and 'Be the best at getting better.'

Those have arguably been the two mottos of Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold women's basketball team head coach Carly Clarke all season long.

The reigning U SPORTS Coach of the Year has praised to her team the importance of flipping the page on last year's Bronze Baby and Critielli Cup Championship winning teams and writing their own legacy with a new-look roster. After a difficult start to the season in which the team began 0-4, they have got better each and every week. 

The Bold are winners of 14 of their last 18 games, including victories over the previously undefeated and No. 1 nationally ranked Ottawa Gee-Gees. Since late November, it's difficult to argue there are many programs in the nation in as fine of form as the Bold.

"I think we have just grown so much as a team. We put in a lot of work to figure out how we work best together and how to put each other in positions to succeed. I think obviously it took a little bit to get our feet under us, who we are and what our identity looks like, but once we found that, we found a lot of success," said Bold fourth-year forward Rachel Farwell.

Finally, it's time to test that form. The message throughout the season has been to peak at the right time — when the postseason arrives. 

The road back to the Critelli Cup kicks off Wednesday night at the Mattamy Athletic Centre when the Bold play host to the visiting Western Mustangs in opening round action. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.

"I'm fired up," said third-year guard Kaillie Hall. "You work all year to put yourself in the playoffs and to succeed in the postseason."

The winner would advance to a quarter-final clash against the Carleton Ravens next Saturday night in Ottawa.

Farwell, who is in the midst of her last year with the program, has emerged into one of the conference's best players this season. The Rothesay, N.B. product is averaging 17.2 points-per-game and is in the running for the first OUA All-Star Team nod of her career. Now, she's looking to head on one last run toward another Critelli Cup.

"I'm excited. The urgency that we're all feeling going into this postseason stretch — every single game is a do or die situation," said Farwell. "Right now, I'm approaching it as though we have two days left in the season and we need to leave it all out there."

Alongside Farwell, Jayme Foreman has emerged into a go-to scoring threat for the Bold as the team's three-point sharp shooter. The first-year guard finished the regular-season fourth in the conference in three-pointers made while she racked up minutes on the court, averaging 32.9 minutes per game. 

Hall has grown into her role as the team's starting point guard and has been a consistent threat to get to the rim off the dribble throughout the season. While fifth-year guard Eve Uwayesu has found her groove after missing 10 of the team's first 11 games and has helped fill the void of the injured Kait Nichols.

"They really all just complement each other so well. As hard of workers as they all are, they all have their own skill set. I feel like they just have really settled into figuring out how to play off each other," said Farwell.

As mentioned, first up for the Bold is a meeting with the Mustangs on Wednesday. 

TMU got the best of Western in their lone meeting during the regular-season, pulling out a 95-65 victory on Jan. 28 at the Mattamy Athletic Centre.

"We shot the ball well against them, so I'm hoping we'll be able to continue doing that based on how they've played us," said Hall.

The Bold were 46.7 per cent from the field and 51.4 per cent from three in the regular-season matchup, with Foreman leading the way with a career-high 27 points.

"We'll be ready to go for Wednesday. Obviously every game now is a must win — and we know that — but I don't think that's going to change how we've flown in the second half of the semester. Our approach looks no different," said Hall.

"I'm honestly really looking forward to the matchup. They have some really talented guards, but I know we'll be ready."

Tip-off is slated for 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday night with a berth in Saturday's OUA quarter-final on the line.