Varsity basketball comes to UTM
Despite the loss, there’s plenty for sports fans to celebrate, says RAWC director.
On October 2, UTM’s Department of Recreation Athletics and Wellness (DRAW) hosted an exhibition game between the women’s varsity teams of the McMaster Marauders and the University of Toronto Varsity Blues. Fans filled the bleachers at the chance to watch varsity basketball return to UTM’s gym.
UofT unable to win at home
McMaster quickly set the pace and took control of the game on both ends of the court. They held the Blues to 6 points in the first quarter, giving themselves a 21 point lead.
The U of T team showed real grit trying to bounce back in the second quarter with strong defensive efforts, allowing U of T’s top scorer, Thuraya Abdul Hamid, to get going offensively. Despite U of T holding McMaster to only 16 points in the second quarter, they ended the first half trailing 43-17.
Momentum was on McMaster’s side and they continued to dominate the rest of the game, out-scoring U of T in the third and fourth quarters 25-11 and 24-14 with Sofia Urosevic of the Marauders having great impact with 16 points off the bench. The game concluded with a final score of 90-42, and the Marauders came out on top convincingly. However, the Varsity Blues will have plenty of opportunities to bounce back from their slow 0-2 start later in the season.
DRAW staff optimistic after loss
Even though it was not the result U of T students were hoping for, there are many positives to unpack from the game. Women’s sports are taking yet another leap this decade, with female college basketball drawing in a record breaking 24 million spectators during the NCAA final between Iowa and South Carolina, and household-name athletes like American gymnast Simone Biles and Canadian swimmer Summer McIntosh dominating the 2024 Olympics.
The DRAW staff understand the importance of contributing to the growth of women’s sports, while promoting inclusivity in athletic events. In a brief interview regarding the game, Peter Mumford, Director of the Department of Recreation Athletics and Wellness, was asked about the impact of organizing events like the exhibition game.
“Women-identified programming and special events, such as the exhibition game between U of T and McMaster, highlight the importance of showcasing empowerment, sportship between players, and how identified women can be celebrated in sport,” said Mumford.
In fact, the department’s inclusion efforts extend far beyond gender or sex in sports. Peter went on to share how vitally important it is to foster inclusive environments where students, staff members, and even spectators have a sense of belonging and community.
“These are primary pillars of DRAW’s revised philosophy towards offering programs and services to students, staff, faculty, alumni and community,” added Mumford.
There is no question that the DRAW is actively working towards promoting inclusive environments in the university’s athletic events. Todd Erskine, Supervisor of Sports Programs, emphasized that the DRAW is constantly evolving to accomplish their inclusivity goals. “The DRAW has developed and implemented various Sport Programs for Women-identified students here at UTM that continue to evolve and be evaluated,” explained Erskine.
These programs range from Tri-Campus competitive sport teams, intramurals, Learn to Play programs, and drop-in sports, all designed with inclusivity in mind. In addition, Erskine explained that specific offerings such as Women’s only Sport Drop-in and Intramural League play have been created to further enhance inclusivity, “providing a safe, positive, and fun environment for Women-identified students.” Finally, he pointed out that the DRAW is committed to ongoing improvements, stating that “through staff training and professional development, we will continue to monitor and implement not only what we offer but how we offer it, striving for best practices in these sport offerings.”
If there is anything to take away from the game between McMaster and University of Toronto, it’s that the event extended past a game of basketball. The game was one of the many steps taken by UTM as an institution to promote growth for inclusivity in sports and support the growth of female athletes. Though the score may have been discouraging for U of T students, rest assured that there will be numerous opportunities for redemption as more steps are taken towards belonging and diversity.
