March 10 2022....WELLAND - The Niagara Knights women's basketball team continued their winning ways Wednesday night in their OCAA playoff qualifying game that saw them cruise to a 80-44 win over the Conestoga Condors.
The Knights finished the season with a 7-1 record where their only loss came from their tilt with St. Clair Saints who finished 1st overall in the West with an 8-0 record.
Niagara finished the first quarter with a 20-12 lead - a lead that would only continue to grow while Conestoga was held off defensively by the blue and white. The Knights had a sizeable lead by halftime, leading the Condors 37-22.
Things heated up for the Knights through the second half holding Conestoga to just six points in the third quarter. The Knights had a commanding 20 point lead heading into the final frame at 58-38.
St. Catharines star Lexxus Bell had a standout game for the Knights, netting a season high 20 points. Bell went 4-7 at from the three-point arc and pulled down eight rebounds for the home team.
Jamira Rousseau, Molly Taylor and Terin Hultink also put up big numbers for the Knights. Rousseau finished her first OCAA playoff game with 14 points and five steals, while Taylor recorded a personal season high of 15 points. Hultink recorded a double-double for the Knights, pulling down 10 rebounds and chipping in 11 points in the Knights post-season win.
For head coach Christopher Rao, the win represented more than just advancing to the OCAA quarterfinals.
"I thought we gave a very good effort team effort tonight," said Rao. " Our girls played very well defensively and very unselfish offensively. The most encouraging part for me is that I don't think anyone played above what they're capable of. It was a very good performance because everyone did their job well on both ends."
With the win, the Knights will advance to the OCAA quarterfinal which will be hosted at Niagara College Saturday March 12th at 2pm. Niagara will face the St. Lawrence Surge who upset the third place East Division Centennial Colts 66-56 last night in the East division qualifying game.
The Knights will need a win over SLC on Saturday to punch their ticket to the OCAA Final Four with the host school TBD. The Final Four format will be hosted by the top seed school and will be played over March 16-17th.
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
For full stats and standings, please visit www.ocaa.com
