PRETTY NAMED OCAA FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

TORONTO - The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) is proud to announce that Breanna Pretty (Sarnia) of Lambton College has been named its 2023-24 Female Athlete of the Year.

The fourth-year two-way player was among the Top 10 in several statistical categories during the OCAA women's basketball regular season, including 62 assists (fourth), 45 steals (eighth) and 224 points (seventh).

Pretty averaged 14.0 points and 6.8 rebounds playing in all 18 games, guiding the Lions to a 14-2 record and a West Division championship. For these efforts, Pretty was named OCAA Player of the Year, a Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) All-Canadian (becoming just the second Lambton student-athlete to earn this distinction), the West Division Player of the Year and a West Division First-Team All-Star.

The Lions entered the OCAA post-season with home court advantage, and Lambton proceeded to steamroll its opponents, winning four straight by an average of 26.5 points per game. Lambton knocked off the two-time defending champion Humber Hawks 74-50 in the quarter-finals, as Pretty contributed 15 points, four steals, four rebounds and three assists.

Pretty scored 19 more in Lambton's 65-50 semi-final win over the Niagara Knights, and was one rebound shy of a double-double. Pretty added four steals and two assists. Then in a highly anticipated match-up in the OCAA gold medal game against the then undefeated East Division champion Algonquin Wolves, Pretty again fell one rebound short of a double-double, scoring 13 points as Lambton won 78-56, winning its first-ever OCAA Division-I championship. Pretty added three assists and two steals and was named OCAA Championship MVP.

Moving onto the national stage, Lambton continued its winning ways, winning its CCAA championship debut 76-67 against The King's Eagles. Pretty scored a game-high 28 points. Lambton then easily handled the Géants de Saint-Jean 62-47 in the national semi-final, with Pretty again contributing a game-high 21 points.

Playing for the national championship, Lambton faced a mighty opponent playing on its home court and one win away from a perfect season. The Lions fell short to the Lakeland Rustlers, losing 64-55, but returned to Ontario with a silver medal. Following the competition, Pretty was named a CCAA Championship First-Team All-Star.

Further recognition of Pretty continued as Lambton's Female Athlete of the Year for the third straight time. Pretty is the first-ever student-athlete from Lambton to be named OCAA Athlete of the Year, and the ninth women's basketball student-athlete.

2023-24 OCAA MAJOR AWARDS

Apr. 9 - Gillian McCullough, Athletic Administrator of the Year
Apr. 10 - Timothy Lock, Male Rookie of the Year
Apr. 11 - Shade Hansen, Female Rookie of the Year
Apr. 12 - Luca Sirianni, Coach of the Year
Apr. 15 - Breanna Pretty, Female Athlete of the Year
Apr. 16 - Male Athlete of the Year

- OCAA -

ABOUT ONTARIO COLLEGES ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

For over 50 years, the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association has been a dedicated leader in amateur athletics through the provision of quality varsity and recreational athletic opportunities at the collegiate level.

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