SARNIA, ON - 2017 couldn't have started any better for the Lambton College Women's Basketball team, as they swept the visiting Sault College Cougars on the weekend. The Lady Lions(4-7) kept themselves in the playoff picture with the victories, while simultaneosly knocking the Cougars (1-10) from their playoff hopes.
Saturday's contest was a heated affair, with both teams running the floor well and playing solid defense. It was the Lions that pulled ahead late in the 1st half, forcing numerous turnovers leading to easy baskets on the other end. The 3rd quarter proved to be one of the wildest quarters for the women all season. The Cougars made a serious run at the Lions, forcing them on their heels and leading to poor fouls. The intensity would continue to rise throughout the quarter, with Sault picking up a technical late in the quarter as tempers flared between players and officials. When the horn blew at the end of the 3rd, the Cougars had cut the lead to just 6. Thats when Lambton took control of the game, exploding in the 4th quarter on the back of their leading scorer Madisyn Campbell, who finished with 26 points on the night. Lambton would take the first contest 73-56. Rounding out the scoring was Lauren Van Leerzem with 19 points, Sara Williams with 8, Maddi Basso wit 7, Morgan Campbell with 6, Christine Fleischer with 4, Lindsay Graham with 2 and Daylin Galvin with 1.
Sunday's 72-50 victory started out with the Cougars dominating play, jumping to the early 17-13 lead. That turned out to be the only lead of the game as Lambton stormed out of the gates in the 2nd quarter, outscoring the Cougars 32-7 to take the 45-24 lead into the half. The Lady Lions put it on cruise control the rest of the way en route to their 4th victory of the season. Madisyn Campbell was again the leading scoring with 19 while Fleischer netted 17. Van Leerzem had 10, Graham had 9, Morgan Campbell had 8, Basso with 7, and Williams with 2 rounded out the scoring.
The Lady Lions hit the road to Mohawk this Friday to take on the Mountaineers.