WELLAND, ON – Looking to finish off their strongest season in years on a high note, the Lady Lions Basketball Team dropped two tough games against the Mohawk Mountaineers and tournament-host Niagara Knights. It was the team's first appearance at the OCAA Championship, a strong testament to how the Women's program has developed over the years and a sign of good things to come.
Game 1: VS Mohawk
In a game where the final score didn't tell the whole story, Lambton fell to the Lady Mountaineers 64-40. The game was in the Lady Lions favour all night, leading by two going into the 4th quarter before Mohawk began to press and turned the tides, scoring 36 points in the final frame. Lambton did all they could to stay in the game but succumbed to the hot shooting and pressure of Mohawk. Melissa Ellis led the Lions offensively, collecting 13 points and 9 rebounds, while Christine Fleischer added 9 points and a game high 17 rebounds in the losing effort.
Consolation Semi: VS Niagara
An unlucky bounce in favour of the Knights led to the go-ahead layup as the Lady Lions were bounced from the tournament with a 54-52 loss. Melissa Ellis' block of a Niagara player seemed to have the game headed to overtime, but Lambton was unable to corral the rebound and Niagara promptly layed the ball in with 7 seconds remaining, leading to the victory. Yasmine Taylor took home top honours for the Lady Lions this game, finishing with 14 points and 8 rebounds. Ellis had another stellar game, getting a double-double with 12 and 12.
It was a tough loss to end the season for the Lady Lions, who overcame a coaching change mid-season to make the OCAA Championship for the first time in school history. The Lady Lions would like to thank the college, the fans, the coaches, and their friends and family for their support this season.