Wednesday, January 18th saw the Niagara Knights women's basketball program improve to 7-4 on the season after defeating the visiting Redeemer Royals 77-53. The win moves the Knights into a tie for third place in the fiercely competitive OCAA West Division.
The Knights were paced by the performances of veteran local standouts Alyssa McCabe (Niagara Falls) and Brooke-Lyn Murdoch (Welland). The fourth year guards were dynamic for the Knights combining for 34 points in the contest.
"Brooke-Lyn and Alyssa were outstanding for us tonight" said Knights head coach Mike Beccaria. "Both played over 35 minutes and were forces at both ends of the floor."
In addition to ringing up 17 points on the scoresheet, McCabe a former point guard for the A.N. Myer Marauders, finished with a season high seven assists, while also adding six rebounds and three steals. McCabe is averaging 10 points and four assists per game on the season.
Murdoch, a graduate of Welland's Jean Vanier Secondary School, turned in her strongest game of the season. Murdoch finished with 17 points but more impressively recorded a game high seven steals. The five-foot-six shooting guard has been red hot in the Knights first two games of 2017, averaging 18 points, five steals, and three assists.
Niagara held the visiting Royals to just 24 points in the second half, most notably a dominant defensive performance in the final frame, limiting Redeemer to just seven fourth quarter points.
"Defensively we were very strong in the second half" continued Beccaria. "We finished with 17 steals, and really executed. Overall tonight was a strong team effort."
Courtney McPherson (Welland) tallied a game high 11 rebounds. The Welland Confederation graduate and 2015-16 OCAA all-star is averaging 10.7 rebounds-per-game, second most in the OCAA West.
The Knights will travel to Etobicoke to face the undefeated Humber Hawks on January 25th. The team returns to the Welland Campus Athletic Centre on Friday, January 27th when they host the Sheridan Bruins. Tip-off is set for 6:00pm.
