Thursday, March 1st saw the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association hand out the year end awards to the best collegiate women's basketball players in Ontario prior to the start of the 2018 OCAA Championship being hosted by the Humber College in Toronto.
The No. 5 ranked Niagara Knights were well represented with Mary Ingribelli (St. Catharines) earning a first-team all-star selection, while Fonthill native Courtney Kilyk was named a second-team all-star.
The five-foot-ten Ingribelli enjoyed a fantastic year for the Knights finishing one point shy of the OCAA West Division scoring title. Ingribelli finished with a Niagara Knights women's basketball record 382 points, eclipsing the previous record of 301 set back in 1980-81 by Carol St. Angelo. The veteran fourth year forward averaged team bests in points (19.1), rebounds (6.8) and steals (2.9).
Kilyk joined the Knights in September having spent the previous four years competing as a member of the St. Francis Xavier women's basketball team in Usports. From the point guard position, night in and night out, Kilyk gave the Knights lockdown defense, while averaging 11.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, and three assists per game.
Up next the Knights will open the 2018 OCAA women's basketball championship with a game against the OCAA East division champion George Brown Huskies on Friday, March 2nd. The Huskies finished the regular with a record of 15-2 and are currently ranked No. 4 in the OCAA weekly rankings. Tip-off for Friday's quarterfinal matchup is set for 6:00pm with the winner advancing to the medal round while the loser will be regular to competing in consolation games.
