The Nipissing Lakers women's basketball team is close.

A tough quarter; a tough 10 minutes spoiled an excellent effort by the Lakers as they fell to the defending national champion 74-48 Saturday night at home.

The teams started strong at both ends of the court and traded buckets early and ended the opening quarter tied 15-15.

It was the second quarter that sunk the Lakers.

McMaster put up 24 points and took control of the game, outscoring Nipissing by 20 and headed to the halftime break leading the Lakers 39-19.

Two more strong quarters closed out the game for the Lakers.

In the third, McMaster outscored Nipissing by just three, but extended their lead heading into the final 10 minutes.

Another tight quarter, but one that also went McMaster's way closed things out.

The Marauders posted 19, while the Lakers countered with 16 in the fourth, keeping pace, but unable to mount a comeback, as the defending champions picked up the win.

Finnley McElwain had 11 points to lead the way for the Lakers and Nicole Budd added eight in tonight's contest.

Nipissing is on the road in Ottawa next weekend to close out the semester.