SARNIA – Staying home.
Hometown guard Lillian Bernard has officially committed to Head Coach Janine Day and the Lambton Women’s Basketball Program for the 2025-26 season, and beyond.
Bernard is the third signed member of the 2025 recruiting class for Day and the rest of the Lions coaching staff. She joins a talented group of incoming recruits that features the likes of Alexis Hinds (Stratford, Ont.) and Ava Grant (Marysville, Mich.).
The Lions have also received verbal commitments from Keianna Cambridge and Malina Lopez ahead of the 2025-26 season.
“It feels really good,” said Bernard after making her college commitment official inside the Cestar Group Athletics & Fitness Complex, which now doubles as her new home court. “I’ve been playing basketball since the fifth grade, and I’ve always been working towards something like this.”
“Fans can expect to see a hardworking player with a positive attitude on the court, and I’m always looking to uplift everyone that I’m playing with. I’m very much a quarterback when I play, and I’m always looking to get my teammates involved and give them open shots with good passes while also being a threat on defense.”
Bernard, a five-foot-five guard, comes to Lambton College by way of Sarnia’s Northern Collegiate Institute and Vocational School, where she played for the Vikings senior girls basketball team back in the fall. Bernard and the Vikings put together a 7-2 record in the regular season, finishing second in the AAA division in Sarnia.
The Vikings advanced to the city finals against the St. Pat’s Fighting Irish. Bernard and company would come out on the losing end of the championship, bringing an end to their season in the process.
Still, it was a successful high school career for Bernard in a Vikings uniform. Now, she’s looking forward to what lies ahead for her in a Lambton uniform.
“I’m looking forward to moving up into the next stage of life,” added Bernard. "School is now something that you’re using to work towards your career. I’m excited but a little nervous at how I’m going to manage it all, but I’m really just looking forward to being part of the Lambton College community.”
Coach Day is also looking forward to having Bernard in the mix moving forward, citing her two-way abilities in the back court as notable strengths in her game.
“Lillian joins the Lions after a successful high school at Northern Collegiate,” said Day. “She is an outstanding athlete who is a tenacious defender and a playmaker on offense.”
“Lillian has an extremely high compete level and love for the game, both of which are qualities that we value at Lambton College. We are thrilled to have her in a Lions uniform this fall.”
Academically, Bernard will be enrolled in the Personal Support Worker Program at Lambton College.
Welcome to The Den, Lillian!
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