SENECA TOPS INITIAL OCAA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL RANKINGS

TORONTO - The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) women's basketball regular season tipped off this past week with a pair of upsets to help shape the initial OCAA Top 10 rankings.

1. Seneca Sting

The Seneca Sting (1-0) came up with a huge victory in their regular season opener, defeating the OCAA champion Algonquin 61-59 on the road on Saturday. With the victory, Seneca ended No. 3 Algonquin's 19-game win streak in OCAA regular season and post-season play.

Sihen Berhe and Chanel Grellmore both scored a dozen points to lead the Sting.

Seneca hosts Centennial on Tuesday, followed by Durham on Friday.

2. Fanshawe Falcons

Similar to No. 1 Seneca, the Fanshawe Falcons (2-0) upended No. 4 Sheridan 77-56 on the road to being their regular season last Wednesday. The win ended Sheridan's 55-game regular season win streak.

Samantha Highgate scored a team-high 15 points to lead the Falcons over Sheridan.

Fanshawe followed this victory with a 79-63 road victory at Lambton on Friday. Tanisha Bromfield led the Falcons with 14 points.

Fanshawe hosts Humber on Wednesday before traveling to No. 9 Niagara on Saturday.

3. Algonquin Thunder

Algonquin (0-1) dropped its season opener to Seneca, and will look to begin a new win streak on Friday when the Thunder hosts St. Lawrence-Kingston.

Sandre Bascoe earned a double-double with a game-high 16 points and 10 rebounds for Algonquin.

4. Sheridan Bruins

The Sheridan Bruins (1-1) began a new win streak on Saturday with a 73-51 home victory over Humber.

Nakia Arthur earned a pair of double-doubles last week. She had a game-high 31 points along with 12 rebounds against Humber, while contributing 18 points and a dozen rebounds in the loss to No. 2 Fanshawe.

Sheridan visits No. 8 Mohawk on Friday.

5. Algoma Thunderbirds

The Algoma Thunderbirds (2-0) earned two road victories to begin the 2011 OCAA regular season and are in a three-way tie with Fanshawe and Mohawk on top of the West region.

Algoma defeated Redeemer 73-38 on Saturday, and No. 9 Niagara 49-37 on Sunday.

Algoma's Amanda Orr and Corina Bruni contributed 16 points each against Redeemer. Bruni led the Thunderbirds with 13 points against Niagara.

Algoma hosts No. 10 St. Clair on Saturday followed by Lambton on Sunday.

6. Loyalist Lancers

The Loyalist Lancers (2-0) top the OCAA East region standings with a 59-34 road victory over Fleming-Peterborough on Wednesday, followed by a 56-39 win in Sunday's home opener against Georgian.

Jenni Thompson scored a game-high 16 points for Loyalist against Fleming, adding nine steals and eight rebounds. She followed this up with another 16 point effort against Georgian.

Loyalist hosts No. 7 George Brown on Friday.

7. George Brown Huskies

The George Brown Huskies (1-0) began their 2011 regular season campaign with a 74-30 victory at St. Lawrence-Kingston last Friday.

A pair of Huskies earned double-doubles in the victory. Kristina Lane scored 17 points while grabbing 10 rebounds, while teammate Danielle Fontyn contributed 10 points and 11 rebounds.

George Brown hosts Fleming-Peterborough on Wednesday before traveling to No. 6 Loyalist on Friday.

8. Mohawk Mountaineers

Mohawk (2-0) is part of a logjam on top of the West region standings following two wins. The Mountaineers defeated Humber on the road 49-39 on Tuesday, and No. 10 St. Clair 73-69 at home on Friday.

Rachelle Abella led the Mountaineers with 11 points against Humber, and followed this up with a 26-point effort against St. Clair, while adding eight rebounds, five assists and five steals.

Mohawk's homestand continues with games against No. 9 Niagara on Wednesday and No. 4 Sheridan on Friday.

9. Niagara Knights

The Niagara Knights (1-1) earned a split at home this past weekend. Niagara defeated Sault 96-45 on Saturday, and lost to Algoma 49-37 on Sunday.

Amanda Pepin earned a double-double against Sault with a dozen points and 10 rebounds. Allana Arundell scored a game-high 15 points in the loss to Algoma.

Niagara visits No. 8 Mohawk on Wednesday before hosting No. 2 Fanshawe on Saturday.

10. St. Clair Saints

The St. Clair Saints (1-1) earned a 63-54 win over Lambton in their home opener on Wednesday, but dropped a 73-69 decision at Mohawk on Friday.

Amanda McCarthy scored a game-high 20 points in the win over Lambton. Kaylee Williams earned a double-double in the loss to Mohawk with 18 points and 16 rebounds.

St. Clair heads to Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. this weekend to take on No. 5 Algoma and Sault.

- OCAA -

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