It wasn't the season ending they were hoping for, but the Niagara College women's basketball program can hold their heads high, as the team finished in in 5th place at the 2017 OCAA Championship. The Knights went 2-1 at the eight team, three-day event hosted by Seneca College. The team's lone blemish came on the opening day, when they were was upset by host Sting.
Friday night saw the Knights lose a 70-67 heartbreaker to Seneca in front of a large partisan crowd at the Seneca Newham campus. The Knights struggled to open the game, trialing 36-26 at halftime.
The team rallied frantically in the second half outscoring the Sting 18-13 and 13-11 in the third and fourth quarters, but the hole proved too deep to crawl out of as the Sting held on for the narrow three point victory. Alyssa McCabe was named Niagara's player of the game finishing with a career high 27 points, while also adding seven rebounds and five steals.
The Knights rallied over the next two games easily disposing of the Durham Lords 77-59 in the consolation semi-final. The Knights controlled the game from the opening tip-off, bolstered by the continued hot hand of McCabe who finished with a game high 25 points. Welland native Courtney McPherson dominated down low turning in 17 points and 17 rebounds, to earn player of the game honours.
In the consolation final, the Knights earned themselves a rematch with Algonquin, the team that eliminated them from medal contention at the 2016 Championship.
The Knights struggled out of the gate, trailing the Thunder 34-27 at the half. The team rallied, outscoring their Ottawa-based opponents 41-28 in the second half to cruise to the 70-63 victory. Fresh off OCAA second-team all-star and defensive player of the year selections, former Jean Vanier standout Brooke-Lyn Murdoch (Welland), finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Murdoch was named the Knights' player of the game.
Despite missing out on the OCAA podium, the Knights enjoyed a breakout 2016-7 season. The team finished the regular season with a record of 12-6, their best record in six seasons.
