ST. CLAIR 59, ST. LAWRENCE (K) 57

HAMILTON, Ont. - A fourth quarter comeback has the St. Clair Saints leaving Hamilton with a bronze medal around their neck after defeating the St. Lawrence Vikings 59-57 in finish that came down to the final seconds.

Unlike their bronze semi-final match, the Vikings shots were falling in the first half. A 22-point second quarter had St. Lawrence up 11 at halftime, 35-24.

St. Lawrence started the game with the same full-court press defence they used for most of the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association championship. But when St. Clair started to get easy layups behind the trap, the Vikings abandoned the strategy only to return to the press in the second quarter when the Saints started to pull ahead.

The decision to start the press again was a good one, holding the Vikings to eight points in the second quarter.

The Vikings then cooled off in the third quarter, relying on three-point attempts to stop St. Clair's comeback. The Saints did finally take the lead with a Jessica Gordon layup. Good shooting from Kendyl Rizea and Shannon Kennedy helped the Saints eventually take a 45-44 lead into the fourth quarter.

St. Clair's offence, that was consistent throughout the tournament, struggled when it mattered most. The Saints only managed two points in the first six minutes of the fourth quarter. Then, just when they needed a boost, Meighen Boyd buried a three, followed by a Kelly Rizea layup to take back a one-point lead.

Up by one in the final minute, the Saints allowed Nicolle Gaudet to sneak into the lane, unguarded on an inbounds play, and give the Vikings a one-point lead.

Kennedy refused to go down easily, however, and answered Gaudet's bucket with a three to go up two. Then it was up to Gaudet again at the free throw line but the Kingston native could only manage one of two, forcing the Vikings to foul after the Saints collected the rebound.

A Kendyl Rizea free throw was all the points the Saints needed to finish the game and capture the OCAA bronze medal. Rizea was named the player of the game for St.Clair with six points, eight rebounds, six assists, two blocks, and two steals. Haley Gourdier received the honour for St. Lawrence with six points, four assists, and a steal. Gaudet led all scorers with 21 points, going 9-of-19 from the floor.

Championship Website: www.mohawkcollege.ca/athletics/ocaawbballchampionship.html

OCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

Thursday, February 27
Quarter-Finals
Game 1 - St. Clair 64, St. Lawrence-K 61
Game 2 - Algonquin 73, Fanshawe 43
Game 3 - Mohawk 64, Durham 50
Game 4 - Humber 67, Sheridan 55

Friday, February 28
Bronze Quarter-Finals
Game 5 - St. Lawrence-K 59, Fanshawe 51
Game 6 - Sheridan 69, Durham 61
Semi-Finals
Game 7 - Algonquin 76, St. Clair 47
Game 8 - Mohawk 65, Humber 43

Saturday, March 1
Bronze Semi-Finals
Game 9 - St. Clair 76, Sheridan 46
Game 10 - St. Lawrence-K 55, Humber 49
Bronze Medal Match
Game 11 - St. Clair 59, St. Lawrence-K 57
Gold Medal Match
Game 12 - Algonquin vs. Mohawk - 7 p.m.
OCAA Gold and Silver Medals presented at conclusion of match

Source: Mohawk College