SHERIDAN 78, NIAGARA 66 (FINAL)

BRAMPTON, Ont. - Though they had several opportunities to blow the game wide open, the Sheridan Bruins women's basketball team (16-10, 10-4) did what they needed to do down the stretch to fend off Niagara, 78-66.

"After a disappointing result the other night, it was good to get a positive one tonight," co-interim head coach Veneshia Morrison said. "With the calendar now turned to February, we know it's time to really start taking our game to its optimal level and for us that all starts at the defensive end of the floor."

A 12-4 run in the first quarter gave the double-blue a 12-point edge which they would carry to a 26-11 lead after one.

They pushed their advantage as high as 20 in the second frame, but Niagara began to chip away and cut the Sheridan lead down to 11, 39-28, at the half.

The third quarter was much of the same, with the Lady Bruins trying to pull away and Niagara doing their best to pull the home side back in.

Sheridan led 58-46 going into the final stanza and saw Niagara cut their lead down to eight late in the game, but closed the contest on a 7-3 run.

The Lady Bruins never trailed in the game and after the first quarter, never allowed Niagara to get closer than eight points from pulling level.

Nakia Arthur notched a game-high 32 points -- her seventh 30-plus point effort on the season -- while Shaylanda Saunders (21) and Desiree Tindugan (12) also hit double-digits.

They now have a crucial contest against Algoma -- who is two games ahead of them in the OCAA West standings -- looming on Februrary 11 (6pm).

They will then host Sault in their final home game of the year the next day (2pm).

Blue notes: Arthur broke a pair of school records, setting the single season points mark -- she has 346 points on the season, passing Pullan Hanson who scored 316 in 1977-78 -- and single season three-pointers made record (43). She needs just two more made three-pointers to tie the OCAA single season record, however Kelly Killoran from Fleming is also a threat to break the mark, with 42 made threes entering weekend play.

Source: Sheridan I.T.