Female Athlete of the Week – Kaitlyn McPherson, Women’s Basketball
Kaitlyn McPherson of the Niagara College women’s basketball program has been named this week’s female athlete of the week. On January 8th, McPherson moved into second all-time on the Niagara Knights career scoring list, amassing 754 in her career thus far.
McPherson, a Welland native and École Secondaire Confédération graduate, reached the milestone on Friday night by recording 14 points in a 94-51 victory against the Redeemer Royals. On top of her offensive output against the Royals, McPherson also added 10 rebounds, recording her second double-double of the season.
Throughout her five year career with the Knights, which includes 82 regular season games, McPherson has averaged 9.2 points per game. She has been a consistent presence for the Knights, not missing a regular season game in her career. In her first four years she played in each of the program's 18 regular season games, and has played in all 10 contests this season.
The fifth-year early childhood education student currently sits third on the Knights in points, totalling 115 through the first 10 games of the season. McPherson and the rest of her Niagara Knights teammates return to the court on January 16th when they welcome the Sheridan Bruins to the Welland Campus Athletic Centre, with tipoff scheduled for 1:00 pm.
Male Athlete of the Week – Lequan Hylton, Men’s Basketball
Lequan Hylton of the Niagara College men’s basketball program has been named this week’s male athlete of the week. In a pair of games games Hylton recorded 38 points and 7 assists, as the Knights earned a weekend split.
On Friday night, Hylton led a high-powered Knights offense to a 105-96 victory against a persistent Redeemer Royals squad. In the contest he recorded 28 points, including a team high 9 points in the fourth quarter to secure the victory. On Sunday the Knights travelled to Jamestown, New York to take on the Jamestown Community College Jayhawks in exhibition play. Hylton contributed 10 points and 5 assists, as a shorthanded Knights team dropped an 87-79 decision against the Jayhawks.
Hylton, a second year police foundations student, currently leads the Knights in assists with 31 and sits fourth in points with 95 through the regular season’s first 10 games. Hylton and the rest of the 7-3 Niagara Knights return to action on January 16th when they host the 7-2 Sheridan Bruins in an important west division matchup. The game will take place at the Welland Campus Athletic Centre, with tipoff scheduled for 3:00 pm.
