The Algoma Thunderbirds basketball teams were defeated on Friday afternoon in close contests against London's Western Mustangs at the Sault College athletics complex.
 
In the women's action, both the Thunderbirds and Mustangs started strong, looking to improve their current winless record in the OUA West. The teams went back and forth in the first, with the Thunderbirds pulling ahead 9-4 after two freethrows from sophomore Sydney Resch. With a tighter defense, Algoma out-rebounded the Mustangs and played to Western's aggressiveness earning four baskets from the charity line. The London squad retaliated getting within one of Algoma down the stretch. Going into the second, Algoma led 15-14. Both teams went quiet for 90 seconds until Western went 1-2 at the freethrow line, tying up the game. Algoma went on an 8 point run, pulling ahead 23-15. With three minutes left in the second, the London-based squad retaliated and quickened the pace. A shot beyond the arc put the Mustangs ahead of Algoma by three. At the buzzer Algoma tied up the score, 28-28. The Mustangs and the Thunderbirds continued to go shot for shot in the third. Algoma clung to a one-point lead going into the final 10 minutes. Western came back strong pulling ahead to take the lead 49-43. Algoma struggled to recover the deficit, chipping into the gap trailing 53-51 with six seconds left. A late shot from the charity line sealed the game in favour of the Mustangs, 54-51. The Mustangs improved to 1-4 while Algoma fell to 0-4.
 
Laura Meadows led the Thunderbirds with 15 points. Western's Carolyn Wolynski had 14. Algoma shot 28 percent from the field versus Western's 24 percent.
 
In the men's game, the Mustangs jumped out to an early lead 6-0. Algoma came back strong pulling ahead 9-8. The teams kept it close going point for point but a late shot by Western gave them the lead 19-14 going into the second. Western continued to widen the gap 27-18. Both teams tightened their defense and struggled to put up points in the second. After a timeout, Algoma regrouped and applied a full court press to close the gap 34-30. With added aggression, Western pulled ahead to lead by 9 going into the second half. After a slow start by both teams, the Mustangs continued to drive the ball to the post, maintaining a 10-point gap. The momentum continued into the final quarter but the Thunderbirds clawed their way back down by only two with five minutes left. Western continued to drive ahead, winning 68-55.
 
Algoma shot 29 percent from the field. Sean Clendinning led the Thunderbirds with 17 points. Western improved to 3-2 and the Thunderbirds dipped to 0-4.
 
The Algoma Thunderbirds look for redemption tomorrow night at Sault College when they meet the Western teams again at 6:00pm and 8:00pm. Admission and parking to both games is free. To stream the games please visit www.algomathunderbirds.ca.