LAMBTON WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TO BE INDUCTED INTO SARNIA-LAMBTON SPORTS HALL OF FAME

SARNIA, Ont. – Called to the hall.

Capping off an incredible season for the program on the hardwood, one that included an OCAA gold medal and a CCAA silver medal, the 2023-24 version of the Lambton women's basketball program will be inducted into the Sarnia-Lambton Sports Hall of Fame as part of its 2024 class.

The news broke on Friday, May 31 as the full class of inductees were introduced. The women's basketball team will be the only 'Team' inducted in this year's class, one that features the likes of professional hockey player Todd Bidner, former NCCVI football coach Ken McLaughlin, and Olympic gold medalist Derek Drouin, among others.

The full list of inductees in the Class of 2024 can be found here.

For the Lions, the induction caps off a historic season for the program on the court. Under the guidance of head coach Janine Day, the Lions put together a regular season record of 14-2, which was good enough for top spot in the West Division and the program's first-ever regular season division title.

The Lions were nationally ranked for most of the season, reaching as high as seventh in the country back in February.

By finishing atop the West Division in the regular season, the Lions earned the right to have home court advantage throughout the OCAA playoffs, should they advance through each round. Convincing wins over the Centennial Colts and the Humber Hawks secured a spot in the OCAA final four for the Lions, which they would host inside the Cestar Group Athletics and Fitness Complex.

In front of a packed house inside The Den, the Lions beat the Niagara Knights in the semifinals, 65-50, setting up a battle of first-place teams in the gold medal game with the Algonquin Wolves. The Wolves came into the finals unbeaten and ranked second in Canada, but the Lions didn't back down. The home side built a 31-point lead before halftime, 50-19, and they never looked back.

For the first time in program history, the Lions won the women's basketball gold medal and punched their ticket to the 2024 CCAA Women's Basketball National Championship in Lloydminster, Alta.

Making their first-ever appearance on the national stage, the Lions were the top-ranked team on their side of the bracket. Wins over The King's University Eagles and the Geants de Saint-Jean, who were the 2023 silver medalists, propelled the Lions into the gold medal game against the hosts from Lakeland College.

The Rustlers came into the gold medal game without a blemish on their record, and it was a battle of the top two teams in the country. The Lions gave everything they had for a full 40 minutes, but the hosts found a way to pull away in the fourth quarter for the 64-55 win. Still, the Lions won the CCAA silver medal to cap off what was a historic season for the group.

As a group, the Lions brought home their share of hardware to go along with their OCAA and CCAA medals. For the second consecutive year, the Lions were named the OCAA West Division's Best Defensive Team.

Fourth-year wing Breanna Pretty (Sarnia, Ont.) was named the OCAA's Women's Basketball Player of the Year and a CCAA All-Canadian, along with being named a West Division First-Team All-Star for the second consecutive year. Then, in April, she was named the OCAA's Female Athlete of the Year across all sports. Pretty was also named the OCAA Championship Most Valuable Player and a CCAA Championship First-Team All-Star.

Fifth-year forward Brett Fischer (Wallaceburg, Ont.) was named an OCAA West Division Second-Team All-Star during the regular season, and she was named a CCAA Championship First-Team All-Star.

Third-year guard Emily Van Hooft (Sarnia, Ont.) was named the OCAA West Division Sixth Woman of the Year during the regular season.

Third-year guard Maddy Bishop (Windsor, Ont.) was named an OCAA Championship All-Star and a CCAA Championship Second-Team All-Star.

Third-year guard Legacie Blackbird (Walpole Island, Ont.) was named an OCAA Championship All-Star.

An enshrinement dinner for the Class of 2024 will be held on Oct. 19 at the Dante Club.

Source: Lambton Lions