Hamilton, Ont. — The Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold women's basketball team opened their 2025-26 regular season with a short trip from downtown Toronto to Burridge Gymnasium in Hamilton, Ont. The Bold earned a statement 70-52 victory over the McMaster Marauders.

Guard Kait Nichols and newcomer Myriam Kone led the charge for the Bold, posting standout performances in the season opener. Nichols recorded a team-high 19 points, while Kone added 15 in her Bold regular-season debut. 

TMU came out strong in the first quarter, with Nichols and Kone setting the tone through early advances to the rim. Bold forward Hailey Franco DeRyck also made her presence felt on the defensive end, executing key plays to keep McMaster at bay.

Although TMU secured an early lead, the Marauders put up a fight, narrowing the gap to 17-15 after the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Nichols continued to shine offensively, closing the half with 14 points and shooting 2-for-3 from the three-point line. Third-year guard Catrina Garvey also contributed valuable minutes, helping to extend TMU's lead. At halftime, the Bold held a comfortable 40-26 lead. 

The third quarter saw the Bold taking control of the court. Nichols and Kone kept the offence rolling. We also saw advances from forward Jessica Keripe, who finished the game with five points and three rebounds. 

The Bold continued to force turnovers by McMaster and finished the third quarter with a 63-33 lead. 

In the fourth, TMU focused on maintaining its endurance. Franco DeRyck continued to make an impact in the paint. Second years, Magdalena Vukojev and Aislin McBurney, also put some points on the board to give the Bold a final push. 

The Bold closed the night with a strong 70-52 win, setting the tone for the remainder of the season.

TMU will continue their OUA opening weekend by heading to St. Catharines, Ont., to face the Brock University Badgers. Game time on Saturday, Oct. 25, is set for 6:00 p.m. and can be viewed on OUA.TV.