SHERIDAN 69, DURHAM 61

HAMILTON, Ont. - Kate Mowat opened the scoring with a layup for the Durham Lords in their bronze quarter-final match against the Sheridan Bruins but the Lords didn't keep up the low-post play until late in the second quarter.
 
The Bruins stuck to a different strategy, continuing to dash to the basket for easy buckets and outlasted the Lord shooters to take the lead after falling behind 7-2 early.
 
Luckily for the Lords, their shooters were keeping the score close for most of the first half. Mowat had several made field goals in the half, including four three-point makes.
 
Sheridan took a four-point advantage into the second quarter and started to stretch their lead. Durham's shooters cooled off and Sheridan was dominating the boards, which helped their transition game, continuing to give them clean looks in the lane. Late in the quarter, however, Durham started to go inside and cut into the Bruins lead. By the end of the quarter, Sheridan was only able to extend their lead by one, heading into half time up five, 36-31.
 
A completely different Durham team showed for the third quarter, which the Lords won 11-7 to cut Sheridan's lead to one. The Lords plugged the lane, defended the basket, and improved their rebounding.
 
After a 7-0 start to the fourth quarter for Sheridan, the Lords were forced to throw everything they had at the Bruins defensively, pressing the bears, and double-teaming the ball handler.
 
Once Durham had no choice but to foul Sheridan's ball carriers to stop the clock, the Bruins were able to hold onto their lead, making their free throws and keeping up a strong interior presence on defence, landing them a 69-61 win.
 
Now the Bruins await the loser of the semi-final matchup between the Algonquin Thunder and St. Clair Saints to see whom they will in the bronze semi-final on Saturday at 9 a.m.
 
Mowat was the player of the game player of the game for Durham, scoring a team-high 20 points. The leading scorer of the game, and player of the game for Sheridan, was Shylanda Saunders who dropped 22 points, grabbed eight rebounds and added six assists.

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 - St. Clair vs. Algonquin - 6 p.m.
Game 8 - Mohawk vs. Humber - 8 p.m.

Saturday, March 1
Bronze Semi-Finals
Game 9 - Loser Game 7 vs. Sheridan - 9 a.m.
Game 10 - Loser Game 8 vs. St. Lawrence-K - 11 a.m.
Bronze Medal Match
Game 11 - Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10 - 5 p.m.
Winning team presented OCAA Bronze Medal at conclusion of match
Gold Medal Match
Game 12 - Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8 - 7 p.m.
OCAA Gold and Silver Medals presented at conclusion of match

Source: Mohawk College