ALGONQUIN 66, SENECA 35

It was the first meeting since the two teams battled in an all-time classic last March in the OCAA championship game. The excitement levels from that double overtime game never materialized as the undefeated Algonquin Thunder controlled the Seneca Sting from the outset and easily rolled to a 66-35 victory.

Seneca was unable to control the Thunder's guards of Holly Ryerse and Abeer Farhat. The two combined for just 19 points, but it was their defence which wreaked havoc on the Sting all afternoon. The Sting constantly put up tough shots or turned the ball over inside the paint due to the pressure defence.

Algonquin controlled the pace of the game from the opening tip. Their aggressive defence broke up a number of Sting passes before finally gaining their first possession just over a minute in.  The Thunder would own the first quarter, ending with a 14-2 lead. The only basket of the first for Seneca came with 36.4 seconds remaining on a tough shot by Sharika Smith. Sandre Bascoe and Trish Grey led the Thunder with four points each in the opening quarter.

The second quarter saw the Thunder increase their lead as they outscored the Sting 19-12 to take a 33-14 lead into halftime. Ryerse and Farhat each had five points in the quarter for the Thunder while Aleisha Moore and Daniellia Myers recorded four each for the Sting.

The second half was much like the first as Algonquin continued to pressure the Seneca ball-handlers,  turning that into fast-break points for themselves. The Thunder matched their first half output while Seneca had quarters of nine and 12. Bascoe was the offensive target for the Thunder in the second half with 10 points while Lauren Egglestone found her shot with eight for the Sting.

For Seneca, Myers paced the team with ten points on 3-of-6 shooting from the floor.  Egglestone's eight was second on the team. Ashley Nurse played big down low pulling down five rebounds. Nurse and Paige Smith each had three steals.

Algonqun was led by Bascoe with sixteen points on 7-of-18 shooting. Ryerse contributed five assists to the Thunder offence while Lindsay Whittaker, Farhat and Ryerse each had four rebounds.

The Seneca Sting (5-3) will travel to play Georgian (0-8) on Wednesday at 6 p.m. while the Algonquin Thunder (9-0) will rest for the holiday season before getting back in action at Cambrian (2-7) on Saturday, January 12 at 6 p.m.

Source: Seneca College