TORONTO – Nearly midway through the fourth quarter, the No. 6 ranked Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) women's basketball team worked hard to force an eight-second violation. 

Immediately after the whistle, the Bold bench erupted in support of their teammates. The possession wasn't a momentum-turner, nor was it responsible for tilting the outcome in TMU's favour. Despite the Bold already leading by 23 points, the forced turnover was a testament to the expectations the players have of each other. 

Good teams win. Great teams win their way. 

The Bold ultimately took care of business by defeating the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks 63-34 on Saturday. 

"Regardless of the opponent or score, I think we're always focused on the next possession and being our best," said Bold Head Coach Carly Clarke. 

After the victory, the Bold improved to 16-2 and strengthened their grip on the top seed in the OUA Central. TMU also improved its home record to a perfect 9-0.

With the luxury of playing an opponent occupied with rebuilding their program, the Bold deployed parts of their roster that don't see as much playing time. One of those players is rookie Reese Bolibruck, who knocked down her first OUA bucket for the Bold midway through the first quarter. After the ball was swung across the perimeter, possession ended up in Bolibruck's hands in the left corner. She rewarded her teammates by effortlessly draining the corner three. 

"It was nice to be able to roll out some different bodies out there," said Clarke. "A lot of people have been working hard to be ready, and that hard work paid off." 

Even with the game's outcome never in doubt, TMU played with a relentless obsession for the basketball. First-year guard Ella McDonald dove head-first for a loose ball among a pile of four orange jerseys. Unsure if their teammate had possession, Bold guard Alex Pino and forward Eternati Willock also hit the deck to secure the ball. 

"You only get so many games to prep and so many reps to get better," said Clarke. "We're just really focused on making the most of every possession." 

Willock has been making the most of her time on the court. The six-foot-four forward is in her first year with the Bold after previously suiting up for the York University Lions and Kansas State Wildcats. After appearing in only one game in 2025, Willock played in her sixth contest of the new year. 

"She's super disruptive and long," said Clarke. "She's also a great and willing passer which adds another offensive dynamic for us." 

With Willock's minutes climbing, the Bold coaching staff is eager to take advantage of her unique combination of length and skills. Willock finished with three points, five rebounds and a season-high four assists. The Bold often positioned Willock on the left block, allowing her to weaponize her height and vision to make reads of various off-ball actions. Earlier in the first half, TMU showcased a horns set with Willock and Hailey Franco DeRyck on opposite elbows. While the action was limited to possessions early in the game, it offered a sneak peek into the tantalizing big-to-big potential between Willock and Franco DeRyck. 

Myriam Kone also finished with a game-high 28 points on 71.4 per cent shooting. Kone is third in OUA scoring with 21.2 points per game. 

The Bold next take the court against the Guelph Gryphons on Feb.6. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on OUA.tv.