HUMBER HOSTS BELAIRDIRECT OCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

TORONTO - Humber College in Etobicoke, Ont. plays host to the 2013 belairdirect Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) Women's Basketball Championship, beginning Thursday and running through Saturday.

Eight teams will vie for the OCAA title, including the host Humber Hawks and two-time defending champion Algonquin Thunder.

A total of 12 games will be played in a span of three days. Following the OCAA awards banquet at Holiday Inn Toronto International Airport at 9 a.m., the OCAA quarter-finals will take place on Thursday afternoon beginning at 1 p.m. Losing teams will compete in the bronze medal quarter-finals on Friday, followed by the OCAA semi-final matches. The bronze medal semi-finals and final will take place on Saturday leading into the OCAA gold medal match.

Fans who are unable to attend the matches live can follow the proceedings via webcast. Visit the championship website for further information.

The OCAA champion and runner-up advance to the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Women's Basketball National Championship, taking place in Truro, N.S. next month.

Here is a look at the OCAA quarter-finalists:

Algoma Thunderbirds (16-2, 2nd West)

This championship marks an end of an era for the Algoma Thunderbirds as they join Ontario University Athletics for the 2013-14 season.

Once again, fourth-year guard Corina Bruni (Sault Ste. Marie) was the team's top offensive player averaging 15.6 points per game. Bruni led all OCAA players with 101 assists, while contributing 71 steals defensively.

Algoma once had a 10-game win streak in the middle of the regular season, before falling to eventual West champion Fanshawe. The Thunderbirds closed out the season with a pair of victories, earning a bye into the OCAA championship. Both of Algoma's losses came on the road, including once at Humber.

Algoma has earned just one OCAA medal in its history, a silver in 2007. The Thunderbirds lost to George Brown 58-52 in the quarter-finals last year. They take on Seneca in Thursday's quarter-final.

Algonquin Thunder (18-0, 1st East)

The Algonquin Thunder went undefeated for the second time in three regular seasons as they now look to become just the third women's basketball program to win three straight OCAA championships.

Algonquin brings a 36-game win streak against OCAA competition to Humber, having not lost a game since Nov. 5, 2011.

Defensively, Algonquin limited opponents to a league-low 40.1 points per game. A pair of Thunder hit tripled digits in rebounds during the regular season, including 125 for Sandre Bascoe (Ottawa) and 108 for Stacey Poapst (Brockville). Offensively, Bascoe averaged 14.8 points per game.

Algonquin faces division rival Loyalist in the quarter-finals. Both regular season meetings were won handedly by the Thunder.

Fanshawe Falcons (16-2, 1st West)

The Fanshawe Falcons earned back-to-back West regional championships. Their next goal is to end their three-year OCAA medal drought.

With the exception of Algonquin, Fanshawe brings the longest win streak into the OCAA championship at a dozen games. These win streaks could collide in the OCAA gold medal game.

Fanshawe's top scorer is third-year point guard Felicia Mazerolle (Elliot Lake). Mazerolle averaged 15.2 points per game while contributing a league-high 73 steals.

The Falcons were upended by George Brown 50-45 in overtime in last year's OCAA bronze medal game. These two teams renew their rivalry in this year's quarter-finals.

George Brown Huskies (10-8, 4th East)

The George Brown Huskies ended a 22-year OCAA medal drought at last year's championship. The Huskies will now look to claim consecutive OCAA medals for the first time since the 1970s.

George Brown brings its longest win streak of the season into the tournament, having won four straight. This includes a 68-64 win over Mohawk to qualify for the championship.

Third-year forward Aria Charles (Toronto) leads the Huskies in two key statistical categories, including an 11.7 points per game average and 139 total rebounds. Second-year guard Shan Wilson (Toronto) averaged 10.2 points per game.

George Brown takes on Fanshawe in a rematch of last year's bronze medal final.

Humber Hawks (12-6, 3rd West)

The Humber Hawks take a 7-2 home record into the OCAA championship. The Hawks are looking to claim their first OCAA medal since taking bronze in 2006.

Defensively, Humber has a pair of centres with triple-digit rebounds, including 146 for Chioma Oriuwa (Brampton) and 116 for Brenda Carachure (Toronto). First-year player Aleena Domingo (Toronto) led all Hawks with an 8.6 points per game average.

Humber lost both of its games at last year's provincials. The Hawks take on St. Lawrence-Kingston in the quarter-finals.

Humber has won three of its last four games.

Loyalist Lancers (10-8, 5th East)

The Loyalist Lancers lost four of five to end the regular season, but secured their berth to the OCAA championship with a 69-65 win at St. Clair in the qualifying round.

Third-year centre Samantha Goff (Omemee) was one of five OCAA players with over 200 rebounds this season with 222. Second-year guard Jenni Thompson (Belleville) averaged 16.5 points per game for the Lancers.

Loyalist lost both of its games at last year's championship. The Lancers play division rival Algonquin in the quarter-finals.

Loyalist was perfect in January with a 4-0 record.

St. Lawrence Vikings (15-3, 2nd East)

After going 0-16 last season, anything that happens at the OCAA championship is gravy for the St. Lawrence Vikings.

After dropping two of its first three regular season games, St. Lawrence went on an 11-game win streak before losing to Algonquin. The Vikings finished strong winning their final three games and earning a bye into the OCAA championship.

Third-year guard Lacey Knox (Kingston) was the leading scorer in OCAA during the regular season, averaging 20.3 points per game. As a team, the Vikings averaged an OCAA-best 69.2 points per game.

St. Lawrence takes on host Humber in the quarter-finals. The Vikings have not won an OCAA medal since 1990.

Seneca Sting (11-7, 3rd East)

The Seneca Sting put a seven-year OCAA medal streak on the line at Humber this weekend.

Seneca was streaking in the right direction in the regular season before dropping its last two games. The Sting defeated Niagara 57-53 in the qualifying round to secure a spot at the championship.

Seneca boasts a pair of players with triple digits in rebounding, including 147 for Ashley Nurse (Barrie) and 139 for Lauren Egglestone (Oakville). Sharika Smith (Mississauga) leads all Sting with an 11.1 points per game average.

Seneca lost the gold medal game to Algonquin in double overtime last season. The Sting open this year's tournament against Algoma.

OCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

Championship Website: athletics.humber.ca/tournaments/ocaa/wbb13/

Thursday, February 28
OCAA Awards Banquet - Holiday Inn Toronto International Airport - 9 a.m.
Quarter-Finals
Game 1 - Seneca vs. Algoma - 1 p.m.
Game 2 - Loyalist vs. Algonquin - 3 p.m.
Game 3 - Humber vs. St. Lawrence-K - 6 p.m.
Game 4 - George Brown vs. Fanshawe - 8 p.m.            

Friday, March 1
Bronze Quarter-Finals
Game 5 - Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2 - 1 p.m.
Game 6 - Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4 - 3 p.m.
Semi-Finals
Game 7 - Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2 - 6 p.m.
Game 8 - Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4 - 8 p.m.

Saturday, March 2
Bronze Semi-Finals
Game 9 - Loser Game 7 vs. Winner Game 6 - 9 a.m.
Game 10 - Loser Game 8 vs. Winner Game 5 - 11 a.m.
Bronze Medal Game
Game 11 - Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10 - 4 p.m.
Gold Medal Game   
Game 12 - Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8 - 6:30 p.m.

- OCAA -

ABOUT ONTARIO COLLEGES ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) is a recognized leader in intercollegiate athletics in the province, dedicated to student athlete and sport development. The OCAA has 30 members sponsoring 16 league and tournament championships.

For additional information please contact:
Josh Bell-Webster
Marketing and Communications
Ontario Colleges Athletic Association
Tel: 416-426-7041
Fax: 416-426-7308
E-mail: bell-webster@ocaa.com