LLOYDMINSTER, Alta. – A historic season continues for the Lions.
The Lambton Women’s Basketball Program held Saint-Jean to single-digit points in two separate quarters, and they rode their defensive momentum to a 15-point win over the Geants in the Semifinals at the 2024 CCAA Women’s Basketball National Championships in Lloydminster, 62-47.
With the win, the Lions have secured their spot in Saturday night’s Gold Medal Game for the first time in program history. This also marks the first time that the Lions have advanced to the National Championships.
The Lions will take on the Lakeland Rustlers in the National Championship. The Rustlers come into Saturday’s Gold Medal Game without a blemish on their record this season and are the hosts of this year’s tournament in Lloydminster, Alberta.
Avery Bathe-Minard (Sarnia, Ont.) was named Player of the Game for the Lions. In 14 minutes off the bench, the fifth-year wing recorded 12 points, on 5-of-11 shooting, and four rebounds.
Much like their quarter-final game the day prior, the Lions started slow in the first quarter. They went back and forth with the Geants for the full 10 minutes as neither team was able to gain much separation from one another. Saint-Jean built a lead of five points on several occasions midway through the first, but the Lions hung around. A three pointer from Morgan Goffar (Stratford, Ont.) and a pair of free throws from Breanna Pretty (Sarnia, Ont.) helped the Lions take a slim one-point lead after the first frame, 19-18.
In the second, the Lions started to pull away from the Geants, who were looking to do one better than last year’s CCAA Silver Medal finish. The Lions held Saint-Jean without a point for over five minutes to start the quarter, and they stretched their lead to eight points in the process.
At the break, the Lions found themselves ahead by eight, 31-23, after holding the Geants to just five points in the second quarter.
Goffar opened the second half with a jumper to push the lead to 10 for the Lions, but it was Saint-Jean’s turn to make a run to try and take back the momentum. The Geants answered Goffar’s jumper with five quick points of their own thanks to increased pressure on defense, and they were off and running. Saint-Jean erased their eight-point deficit in the quarter, outscoring the Lions 18-10 to send the game into the fourth quarter tied up at 41-all.
With 10 minutes between them and a spot in the Gold Medal Game, the Lions turned up the pressure on both ends of the floor when it mattered most. Despite the Geants opening the scoring in the fourth, the quarter was all about the Lions. The Lions had a quick answer to the first basket by Saint-Jean, and the Lions were in control the rest of the way.
After the Geants made it a two-point game with 5:20 left, at 47-45, the Lions went on a 15-2 run over the final 5:01 of the game to put the game on ice.
For the first time in school history, the Lambton Women’s Basketball Program will play for a National Championship after their 62-47 win over Saint-Jean.
Pretty led all scorers with 21 points on the night. She also had eight rebounds, three assists, and one steal. Maddy Bishop (Windsor, Ont.) had 13 points and four rebounds, while Goffar finished with nine points and four rebounds.
Forward Brett Fischer (Wallaceburg, Ont.) was held to just two points, but she chipped in 10 rebounds and five assists.
Now, the Lions turn their attention to the top-ranked Rustlers on Saturday night in what promises to be a full house inside Lakeland College. Tipoff is set for 6:00 p.m. MDT / 8:00 p.m. EST.
The Rustlers are coming off a 64-54 win over the Champlain-Saint Lambert Cavaliers on Thursday night in their semi-final contest.
For more information, or for any media inquiries within Lambton College Athletics, please contact:
Tyler Bennett
Lambton College Sports Information & Marketing Coordinator
tyler.bennett@lambtoncollege.ca