Taking on the fourth ranked team in the province is no easy task but the Niagara College women's basketball (4-3, 4th West) program was up for the challenge. In front of a large home crowd, the Knights battled hard against the Humber Hawks (7-1, 2nd West).
Niagara raced out of the gates to a quick 10-5 lead, but the experienced Hawks clawed their way back to end the first quarter up two points. A tightly contested second quarter saw the game tied at half 30-30, due in large to the tremendous low post play from Knights forward Courtney McPherson (Welland). Courtney had 16 points in the first two quarters, accounting for over half of the Knights 30 points.
The Hawks pulled away with a 12 point lead in the third quarter but a 9-0 run by the Knights made it a five point game going into the fourth. Unfortunately for the Knights, that would be as close as they would get as Humber dominated the fourth quarter, outscoring Niagara 30-19.
The Fanshawe Falcons (7-0, 1st West) are the best team in the OCAA according to the standings but Knights second year head coach Mike Beccaria thinks otherwise. "Humber, in our view, is the best team in the conference and being so close for most of the game is something that we can build on."
Despite the losing effort, the Knights had three players' record double doubles. Alyssa McCabe (Niagara Falls) had 11 points and 10 assists, Courtney McPherson had a game high 23 points and 15 rebounds, and Miranda Ross (St. Catharines) had 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Humber was led offensively by Ceejay Nofuente (Toronto) with 21 points and Llyandra Kerr (Scarborugh) adding 19 points.
The Knights will now play their final two games before the break on the road, going to Mohawk (4-1, 3rd West) on November 27th then playing against Redeemer (0-5, 9th West) December 4th.
