ALGOMA 64, SENECA 26

ETOBICOKE, Ont. -  The belairdirect OCAA Women's Basketball Championship began today here at the Humber North Campus with the opening game between the Seneca Sting (11-7, third in East) and the Algoma Thunderbirds (16-2, second in West).

The Sting looked to extend their six-year medal run to seven at the OCAAs, and possibly avenge a heart-breaking loss in the final last year to Algonquin.

Algoma looked to build on a quarter-final appearance last year that ended with a 58-52 loss to George Brown and look to capture their second OCAA medal in the school's history. Ironically, it would also be their last medal in the OCAA, with the school moving over to Ontario University Athletics next season.

The first quarter was a fast paced contest that saw the two teams tied 8-8 with just over four minutes to go. The score remained back and forth until the final seconds when Algoma guard Corina Bruni went coast-to-coast to finish with a dazzling lay-up that put the Thunderbirds up 12-11 at the end of the first.

Both teams would trade baskets until Algoma mounted a 4-0 run to make it 18-13 halfway through the second. An impressive block at the baseline by forward Laura Cooper would send the ball out of bounds and force a Seneca timeout.

Unfortunately the timeout would solve nothing for Seneca. Algoma would go on a 16-7 run and lead 36-20 at the half.

Bruni led all scorers at the half with 13 points, as well as adding five rebounds and two assist. Seneca's Ashley Nurse led all players with nine rebounds as well as adding six points at the half for the Sting.

The Thunderbirds would outscore the Sting 24-9 in the second quarter.

Laura Cooper continued the assault for the Thunderbirds in the opening minutes of the second half by scoring the first four points for Algoma. Guard Rhaelyn Gillespie also added a three to make it 43-20 for Algoma at the 5:35 mark in the third.

Algoma's defence would be the story in the third quarter, not allowing Seneca to score a bucket in the third until Seneca guard Sharika Smith put in a lay-up in with 3:42 to go in the quarter. Algoma would take a 48-25 lead into the fourth.

The fourth saw Algoma shut the door once and for all with stingy interior defence that only allowed one point to Seneca. They took this game by a final of 64-26.

Player of the Game honours went to Bruni for Algoma with 16 points, six rebounds, and three assists. Nurse collected the Player of the Game honours for Seneca with six points and 11 rebounds.

Bruni believed "a playoff atmosphere can be a lot to handle, and mental focus is going to be key moving forward, and I believe as long as we keep that in check and stay together (like in the second half) as a team, we can be successful."

Algoma head coach Ryan Vetrie had a similar view towards his team's success, saying that "playing with intensity the entire game," and "controlling the emotions in the first quarter," will be the Thunderbirds keys to success for the rest of the tournament.

With the win, Algoma moves on to the semifinals tomorrow at 6 p.m.

With the loss, Seneca moves to the bronze quarter-final bracket tomorrow at 1 p.m.

Source: Humber College