Photo Credit: Freeze Frame Photos
At the George Leach Centre on the campus of Algoma University, the Algoma Thunderbirds women’s and men’s basketball programs officially tipped off their 2025 to 2026 OUA campaigns, hosting the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks in a two-game weekend set on Friday, October 24 and Saturday, October 25.
The opening contest of the weekend featured the Thunderbird women, who fell 60 to 32 in a defensive battle controlled by Laurier. The Golden Hawks received a standout performance from Keira Aikman, who recorded a double-double with ten points and seventeen rebounds in twenty-five minutes. Maya Fureth reached eleven points with five rebounds across twenty-one minutes of floor time, while Isabella Cotton added eight points and five rebounds in twenty minutes. For Algoma, Garden River’s Sadie Grawbarger delivered a dominant effort in the paint with ten points and nineteen rebounds through thirty-five minutes. Jamison Turner contributed eight points and eight rebounds in sixteen minutes, while Riya Donnelly added five points and five rebounds in twenty-four minutes of action.
Game two displayed a stronger push from the Thunderbirds, yet the Golden Hawks completed the sweep with a 61 to 45 victory. Laurier’s offensive production was highlighted by Cotton, who put up twelve points along with five rebounds in twenty-nine minutes. Martina Errazo followed with eleven points and a rebound in twenty-six minutes. Aikman again set the tone on the glass with twelve rebounds and eight points in twenty-nine minutes. Grawbarger continued to be a force, registering fifteen points and sixteen rebounds across thirty-nine minutes to lead Algoma. Mercedes Mazzuca chipped in fourteen points and three rebounds in twenty minutes, while Donnelly added seven points and three rebounds over her twenty-nine minutes on the court.
On the men’s side, Algoma opened their season against a quick and efficient Laurier squad, falling 91 to 52 in Friday night’s matchup. Oliver Krissoffersen led the Thunderbirds with eleven points and four rebounds across twenty-three minutes, while Jean-Luc Cubahiro contributed nine points and nine rebounds in twenty-two minutes. Logan Whitmell added nine points and five rebounds in twenty minutes. Laurier’s offensive balance proved decisive, led by Malik Langenegger with thirteen points and four rebounds through nineteen minutes. Noah Ramsbottom added twelve points and two rebounds in twenty minutes, while Aidan Whalen totaled eleven points in seventeen minutes of play.
The men’s rematch on Saturday brought a more competitive showing from Algoma, despite an 87 to 60 final in favour of the Golden Hawks. Krissoffersen again paced the Thunderbirds with thirteen points across twenty-nine minutes. Biong Deng matched the scoring lead with thirteen points and two rebounds in eighteen minutes, while Whitmell added eleven points and three rebounds in twenty-seven minutes. Laurier’s Whalen delivered a dominant performance of thirty-three points and thirteen rebounds over twenty-seven minutes, supported by Jeremy Rudnick’s ten points and four rebounds in twenty minutes. Ethan Passley contributed nine points and four rebounds through twenty-three minutes of action.
Visit Freeze Frame Photos by Bob Davies photo gallery of the Laurier Golden Hawks versus Algoma Thunderbirds in OUA basketball action.
Both Thunderbirds programs now turn their focus to the road, where they will face the Guelph Gryphons on Friday, October 31. The women will tip off at 6:00 p.m, followed by the men at 8:00 p.m as Algoma continues its early-season push in OUA competition.
