SARNIA – Made a statement on Saturday afternoon.
Inside the Cestar Group Athletics & Fitness Complex on Saturday afternoon, the Lambton Women’s Basketball Team extended their winning streak to five games with a 65-40 win over the visiting Niagara Knights.
With the win, the Lions improved their record to 12-2 and remain in first place in the West Division. The loss drops Niagara to 10-4 on the year with two games remaining.
It was a back-and-forth game for the opening five minutes of the first quarter. The Knights built an early four-point lead with 5:48 left in the quarter on a Janee Harrison jumper. From there, the Lions found their rhythm on both ends of the floor and took control of the game.
Avery Bathe-Minard (Sarnia, Ont.) connected on a three-pointer with 5:36 to play, and that kicked off an 18-0 run for the Lions to close the first quarter. Breanna Pretty (Sarnia, Ont.) had eight of her game-high 18 points in the first quarter alone, helping to spearhead the run for the Lions.
In the second quarter, the Knights did their best to cut into the deficit. They got to within four points on multiple occasions, but the Lions had an answer on the offensive end. Emily Van Hooft (Sarnia, Ont.) hit a three-pointer of her own with under three to play in the first half to give the Lions a seven-point lead at the time. Pretty would later restore a six-point lead at the break for the Lions with a layup in the final minute of the half.
The Lions led 35-29 at the break.
As the case has been for the second half of the season, the Lions took things up a notch in the third quarter. They outscored the Knights by an 18-3 margin to take a commanding 21-point lead into the fourth quarter. Jordyn Britton (Thorold, Ont.) hit a jumper with 22 seconds to play in the third quarter, drawing a big ovation from the bench in the process.
In the fourth quarter, the Lions had things on cruise control. They kept the Knights at bay, and off the scoreboard for the first four-plus minutes of the quarter, and rolled to the 25-point win, 65-40.
The win was the fifth in a row for the Lions, who maintain their spot atop the West Division with two games remaining. All five of their wins during their winning streak have been by at least 12 points.
Pretty led all scorers with 18 points on 50% shooting (7-of-14) from the field. She also pulled down nine rebounds in the win. Van Hooft had 11 points off the bench, finishing a perfect 4-of-4 from the field in the win. Forward Brett Fischer (Wallaceburg, Ont.) finished two points shy of her ninth double-double of the season, recording eight points and 10 rebounds.
Now, the Lions turn their focus to the final weekend of the regular season, which they will spend on the road. Up next is a Friday night tilt with the Redeemer Royals in Ancaster.
Tip off is set for 6:00 p.m.