Female Athlete of the Week – Brooke-Lyn Murdoch, Women’s Basketball
Brooke-Lyn Murdoch (Welland) of the Niagara Knights women’s basketball program (8-6, 5th OCAA West) has been named this week’s female athlete of the week. Murdoch was stellar in a pair of victories as the Knights earned a weekend sweep over the visiting Sault Cougars.
The third-year Health & Fitness student stood out on both ends of the ball for Niagara. On Saturday evening Murdoch was a star all-around, recording 13 points, eight steals, and five assists as the Knights trumped the Cougars 87-52. Returning to the court on Sunday afternoon for another match-up with the Cougars, she added four more points, seven assists, and four steals in the Knights 71-33 victory.
Over the span of two games Murdoch recorded 17 points, 12 steals, and 11 assists. Speaking to her contributions over the weekend, Head Coach Mike Beccaria said, “Brooke-Lyn had an excellent weekend leading a strong defensive unit against the Sault.”
Murdoch and the rest of the Knights will not have to wait long to return to the court. Niagara will travel London on February 4 for a date with the Fanshawe Falcons (6-7, 6th OCAA West). It will be an important contest for the Knights as they look to keep pace with 4th place in the standings and home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs with a win against the Falcons.
The OCAA Women’s Basketball Championship is coming to Welland. The Niagara Knights will welcome the province’s best teams to the Welland Campus Athletic Centre on March 3-5, 2016. Visit www.goknights.ca/ocaawbb for all your championship information.
Male Athlete of the Week – Jeff Scott, Men’s Volleyball
Jeff Scott (Georgetown) of the Niagara Knights men’s volleyball program (11-3, 3rd OCAA West) has been named this week’s male athlete of the week. Scott became the Knights all-time career digs leader on Friday night, recording seven digs in a victory over the Redeemer Royals (10-4, 4th OCAA West).
Entering the matchup with 419 career digs his credit Scott surpassed former Knight Bailey Cochrane’s career mark of 420 digs. The fourth-year Pre Health Sciences student, who is also second on the Knights career points list, was a key contributor in an important 3-1 (22-25, 26-24, 25-20, 25-21) victory over the Royals. Scott also paced the Knights with a game-high 18 points on the strength of 15 kills in the winning effort.
Sitting in third place in the OCAA West division standings, Scott and his teammates will be seeking second place and a first round bye with only four games remaining in the regular season. The Knights will welcome the Cambrian Golden Shield (0-15, 10th OCAA West) and Boreal Vipères (2-13, 9th OCAA West) to the Welland Campus Athletic Centre for a pair of games on February 6th and 7th respectively.
