The Cambrian Golden Shield basketball programs will be headed to Welland to face the Knights in a double header on January 31 and February 1.

Action begins Saturday, when the women's basketball (6-6, 6^th West) program tips off against Cambrian (1-12, 9^th West) at 6:00pm at the Welland Campus Athletic Centre.  The Knights are two points behind St. Clair (7-5, 5^th West) for fifth place in the OCAA West standings and a two-game sweep over Cambrian would put the Knights two points back of Fanshawe and Sheridan, who also have a game in hand.

The Knights are coming off an impressive 60-56 win at Fanshawe (9-4, 3^rd West), ending a two-game losing streak and rejuvenating their confidence.  Second-year point guard Alyssa McCabe (Niagara Falls) did a little bit of everything in that game, going off for nine points, eight assists and five rebounds, earning herself SAC's female athlete of the week honours.  Alyssa now ranks second in the province with five assists per game, just 0.1 behind the leader.  Welland native Courtney McPherson has scored in double digits in five of her last six games and is averaging 11.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game.

Cambrian is currently on a ten-game losing streak, with their most recent loss coming to the Sheridan Bruins (9-4, 4^th West) on January 25, 56-42.  The Golden Shield are led by Karli Marcotte, who is averaging 11.3 points per game and is ranked 23 in the province. 

Niagara College and Cambrian will match again on February 1, with tip-off scheduled for 1:00pm.

Following the women's game, the men's basketball (3-8, 8^th West) program is scheduled to play Cambrian (0-13, 10^th West) on January 31, with tip-off set for 8:00pm.  The Knights are coming off a heart-breaking 93-82 double overtime loss to the Fanshawe Falcons (10-3, 3^rdWest). 

Niagara is currently six points behind Sheridan (6-7, 6^th West) for the final playoff spot, a feat these Knights are more than capable of accomplishing.  Despite being in the midst of a season-high six game losing streak, the Knights have begun to play better team basketball, improving game-by-game.  A double header against Cambrian may be all the Knights need to give them that final playoff surge.

Fifth-year forward Ryan Christie (Hamilton) is averaging 15 points and 10.5 rebounds over his last four contests and will be looking to stay red hot during the weekend series against the Golden Shield.  Cambrian is led by Kevin Cole, who is averaging 15 points per game and ranked 29 in the OCAA in scoring.  Cole is coming off a season-high 25 points, accounting for over half of his team's offence in their 83-49 loss to Sheridan. 

Game two of the double-header will tip off on February 1 at 3:00pm. For full season standings, statistics, schedules and more please visit: http://www.ocaa.com/landing/index