March 7, 2022- The Niagara Knights women's basketball team finished with a 7-1 season record after edging Fanshawe (1-7) Friday night in their final regular season game.
Friday's home game also saw the Knights celebrate their graduating athletes from their respective programs with Elisabeth deBoer, Veronika George Brown, Jessica Bosma, Jessyka Maliksi, Lysa Lowe and Mia Wang being honoured prior to tip-off.
Friday's tilt with the Falcons saw a low scoring game from both teams with Fanshawe plagued by injury and Niagara resting it's usual starters for their playoff run this week.
First quarter action had both teams deadlocked at 12 aside at the end of the first frame. Both teams again ended the first half in a tie at 20-20, netting just eight points in the second quarter.
Things opened up in the third quarter with Niagara eventually pulling away with a bit of a lead with Jamira Rousseau leading the charge with 11 points to end the quarter with a 41-36 lead.
The final frame saw both teams fight a close battle right down to the wire with Fanshawe outscoring Niagara 17-14. The Knights hung on for the lead to grab their seventh win of the season, 55-53.
Rousseau led the blue and white with 16 points, while Fanshawe's Grace Shea led with 19.
With second place in the OCAA West division locked up, the Knights will host seventh place Conestoga College (2-6) at home Wednesday night to kick-off the OCAA playoff season. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. The winner of of Wednesday's qualifier will advance to the OCAA quarterfinal on Saturday March 12th.
Full playoff format is below.
For full stats and standings, visit ocaa.ca
QUALIFYING GAMES - March 9
Game A: East #8 @ East #1
Game B: West #5 @ West #4
Game C: West #7 @ West #2
Game D: East #6 @ East #3
Game E: West #8 @ West # 1
Game F: East #5 @ East #4
Game G: East #7 @ East #2
Game H: West #6 @ West #3
QUARTER FINALS - March 12 (High Seed Host)
Game 1: Winner Game A vs. Winner Game B
Game 2: Winner Game C vs. Winner Game D
Game 3: Winner Game E vs. Winner Game F
Game 4: Winner Game G vs. Winner Game H
FINAL FOUR @ top seed - March 16-17
Day 1 - March 16
6:00pm - Semi-Final #1: Winner of Quarter-Final #1 vs. Winner of Quarter-Final #2
8:00pm - Semi-Final #2: Winner of Quarter-Final #3 vs. Winner of Quarter-Final #4
Day 2 - March 17
5:00pm - BRONZE MEDAL GAME: Loser Semi-Final #1 vs. Loser Semi-Final #2
7:30pm - GOLD MEDAL GAME: Winner Semi-Final #1 vs. Winner Semi-Final #2
