Toronto — There were slight tricks, but it ended in treats for the No. 3 nationally ranked Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold women's basketball team, who held off the Lakehead Thunderwolves 59-51 in their Halloween home opener.

Coming off an undefeated OUA opening weekend on the road, the Bold were ready to defend their home court.

Forward Hailey Franco DeRyck and guard Myriam Kone both delivered standout performances.

DeRyck produced a dominant 17-point and 18-rebound double-double, marking her best game of the season so far.

"I didn't have the best games last weekend," said Franco DeRyck. "I'm always stuck with, 'Oh, I could have done this,' so I just gave my all to every play."

Kone added 17 points, nine rebounds and four steals, continuing her strong start through her first three OUA appearances. 

"It's definitely been a learning curve at times," said Kone, reflecting on her first few OUA games with the Bold. "I'm still learning from my teammates and still learning about other opponents and how they're guarding me."

The Bold kicked off the first quarter, looking to get ahead early and set the tone. 

Kone made an immediate impact, finding ways to reinforce on both ends of the court. 

"She's super impactful for us, and she impacts the game on both ends of the floor," said Head Coach Carly Clarke.

Franco DeRyck went to work in the paint, netting eight points just in the first quarter. 

"[Franco DeRyck is] such a dynamic player," said Coach Clarke. "She impacts the game in so many different ways, offensively and defensively."

The Bold found themselves with a 19-11 lead after the first.

TMU began to pull farther away from Lakehead in the second quarter. Rookie Ella McDonald executed offensively, becoming comfortable on the court. She finished the game with six points, maintaining her streak of scoring in each OUA regular season game so far. 

"Ella's been really solid. I think she's learning and getting better every day," said Coach Clarke.

The offence was flowing well for the Bold, with players setting each other up for shots. Kone drained a three-pointer before Catrina Garvey followed with another one from deep, showcasing the team's shooting talent. The Bold finished the first half ahead, 38-24. 

In the third quarter, TMU continued steadily adding to their lead. Jessica Keripe contributed six points and five rebounds tonight, while Garvey finished with eight. The Bold had a significant lead after the third quarter, 57-33.

The fourth quarter saw some offensive struggles for TMU. The Thunderwolves outshot the Bold in the final quarter. The Bold's early performance provided the buffer they needed, allowing them to secure the win, 59-51. 

"I definitely think that we needed to slow down the ball quite a bit, actually run our things through and look at every option," said Kone, identifying areas for improvement.

"We just have to continue to be more disciplined with their habits and be mentally locked in through all four quarters," Coach Clarke added, reflecting on the fourth.

The Bold will make a short subway trip this Sunday, Nov. 2, to take on the University of Toronto Varsity Blues. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. at the Goldring Centre. Catch all the action on OUA.tv.