Game Preview: Basketball – Lakehead vs TMU

Game Day Preview: Lakehead Thunderwolves vs. TMU | January 17th & 18th 2025

Date: Friday/Saturday, January 17th & 18th, 2025

Time: 6pm Women’s | 8pm Men’s

Venue: Thunderdome

Stream: OUA TV

Tickets: https://luathletics.lakeheadu.ca/GuestPass/GetProducts

Men’s Basketball:

The Lakehead Men’s basketball team will look to get back into the win column against the TMU Bold after dropping their first game of 2025 and their first at home all season against the Ottawa Gee Gees on January 10th.  The Thunderwolves (10-2) remain first in the OUA Central Division, and will hope to keep things that way when they take on the 2nd seed TMU in a back to back weekend. TMU started off 2025 by splitting their return to OUA action with a win against Carleton (85- 72)  and a loss to Brock (66-74) .

Both teams are characterized by strong offenses, with both teams sitting in the top 4 in the OUA for points per game – Lakehead 3rd / TMU 4th. On the defensive side of the ball, favour swings in the way of the team from the six, with TMU limiting their opponents to 65.7 points per game on average (2nd in OUA) while the Thunderwolves allow on average 75.3 points per game, enough for 9th in the OUA.

This weekend’s matchup will be the third consecutive game that the Men’s team faces one of the USPORTS Top 10 ranked schools, with the squad’s record currently sitting at .500 in these games.

Stat Leaders:

• Scoring
  • Wolves: Nathan Bilamu – 19.8 ppg | TMU:  Aaron Rhooms 18.3 ppg
• Assists
  • Wolves: Chris Sagl – 6.4 apg | TMU:  Javier Gilgeous-Glasgow – 4.5 apg
• Rebounds
  • Wolves: Harold Santacruz – 7.5 rpg | TMU: Aaron Rhooms- 6.7 rpg

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Women’s Basketball:

The start of 2025 doesn’t get any easier for the Women’s team (2-10) as they take on the #2 seed in the OUA Central Division this coming weekend.

TMU are currently unbeaten on the road, going 4-0 in their games this season, lead by the offensive scoring of Kaillie Hall, and the #3 rebounder in the OUA, Hailey Franco-DeRyck.

Despite the loss to Ottawa, the Thunderwolves have shown that they are capable of stringing together potent periods on offense. Last year’s matchupa saw the Thunderwolves drop both games ( 70 -53 | 75 – 50) at TMU.

The Thunderwolves sit 5th in the OUA Central Division, while TMU sit 2nd in the OUA Central Division behind Brock.

This Saturday’s matchup will also be the team’s annual “Think Pink” night in association with the TBRHSF, with funds raised going towards breast cancer research in the region. Fans who attend the game and donate $20 or more a the TBRHSF kisoks will be entered into the draw to win a Porter Airlines voucher. To donate the the cause and support the team’s fundraising efforts visit the link below.

https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/lushoot2024

Stat Leaders:

• Scoring
  • Wolves: Ally Burke – 11.8 ppg | TMU: Kaillie Hall – 15.9 ppg
• Assists
  • Wolves: Ally Burke – 4.1 apg | TMU: Kaillie Hall – 2.6 apg
• Rebounds
  • Wolves: Kelly-Ann Coulombe – 8.1 rpg | TMU:  Hailey Franco-DeRyck –  10.0 rpg