The Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold women's basketball squad soared past the Western Mustangs on Wednesday to punch their ticket into the next round of the OUA playoffs.
Led by their strong contingent of first-year talent, the Bold outscored the Mustangs in three of their four quarters to take a 66-54 win on home court.
Alex Pino finished just a point shy of tying her season-high total of 13 in the Bold win, landing all four of her shots from beyond the arc to help electrify the home side and carry the Bold to victory.
First year's Catrina Garvey and Corrynn Parker registered 10 and 9 points respectively in their OUA playoff debuts, with the latter adding seven rebounds and a block to her nightly total.
In a game that saw TMU's rookies shine at their first kick of the postseason, the Bold shot nearly 42% from three-point range while securing over a third of their points in transition.
"All of our freshmen are doing really well this year," mentioned Parker following the win.
"I think it's great that we are all going through this together in our first year. I think it gives us a bonding experience," she added, praising the leadership roles of both Haley Fedick and Kaillie Hall in helping the young core feel welcomed throughout the regular season and beyond.
Head Coach of the Bold Carly Clarke used the word 'fearless' to describe the identity of her rookie personnel.
"They're pretty ready for these moments," added Clarke.
The Bold held the Mustangs' attack - led by a trio of scorers in Emily Capretta, Paris Alexander and MacKeeley Shantz - from collecting points throughout the closing frame, mitigating the three to just seven points - all of which coming from Alexander.
Parker was pleased with the way her side managed Western's top scorers through forty minutes of play, particularly how the group collectively cooled off the hands of Shantz throughout the second half.
"We were just trying to get the ball out of her hands and play really tough defense," said Parker following the game.
The first-year opened up TMU's first contest of the postseason as the team's leading conduit on offense through the opening two quarters of play.
Trailing the Mustangs in the early goings of the first quarter, the Bold rallied off 13 consecutive points - seven of which flying from the hot hands of Parker - to grab their first lead of the postseason.
Parker continued to dictate TMU's attack in the second frame as well, flexing her playmaking abilities around the perimeter of the court en route to claiming a team-high two assists in the quarter.
As Parker and company helped steer the Bold closer to a first playoff victory throughout the second, Western's Capretta and Shantz helped forge a comeback for their side through individual brilliance.
Both players led the Mustangs to victory during the last matchup between the two sides in January and combined for 12 of the visitors' 16 points in Wednesday's second quarter as well.
With Western's best nipping at the heels of the Bold heading into halftime, the blue and gold once again used their momentum to distance themselves from their opposition to a point of no return from the visitors.
A 14-0 run from the Bold slammed the door shut on Western's comeback hopes throughout the final two quarters and helped eliminate the London side from the postseason picture.
"We've been working for this the whole season. We're not done yet," said Pino following Wednesday's victory.
The Bold will be back in action this Saturday when they face off against the OUA Central's best in an away clash with the Brock Badgers. Tip off from TMU's quarter-final is set for 2:00 p.m.
