Box Score OSHAWA, Ont. – Despite a fourth-quarter scare, the Durham College women's basketball team walked away with an 80-74 victory over the Sheridan Bruins in their OCAA crossover match on Sunday night.
The victory is a testament to the team's success this year as they've won their first crossover game in four years, after having a bye to the championship in 2014. That said, they will have tough competition this Friday when they open the Belairdirect OCAA women's basketball championship at Humber College against the Fanshawe Falcons.
Having the Bruins as an opponent in the crossover game was also the first-time in four years that Durham didn't play the St. Clair Saints.
"We strayed from our game plan slightly late in the game, but I'm extremely proud of our team and the result tonight," said head coach Heather Lafontaine. "This is the time of year you work to prepare for all season. We will enjoy the win tonight and then refocus tomorrow to get ready for Fanshawe on Friday night."
After trading the lead throughout the first and second quarters, Durham trailed just 35-33. They made the better halftime adjustments – at least to start as their huge third quarter of 28 points doubled the Bruins to take a 61-49 lead into the final ten minutes.
That is where it started to slip away after scoring the first four points of the quarter. Sheridan went on a 3-0 run, before multiple 5-0 runs cut the lead to 69-65.
A pair of key threes by the Lords stretched the lead to 77-65 and from there it was just holding on as the Bruins were unable to get to within four points again.
Maddie Dender (Ajax, Ont.) led the Lords scoring with 24 points – which included five three-pointers and 3-for-4 shooting from the line.
The biggest benefit for the Lords was
Emily Glendinning (Plattsville, Ont.) and
Alyssa Navarro (Oshawa, Ont.) each earning double-doubles. Glendinning finished with 10 points and 13 boards, while Navarro finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Sheridan didn't have a player with a double-double, but had three players in double-digit scoring – the leader being Brianna Stewart with 20.
The Lords have yet to face Fanshawe this season.
The last time the two teams met was October 3, 2015 in the Durham College Big 8 Classic – a game the Falcons won – which will mean little when they battle this Friday night in Etobicoke at 8 p.m.
2018 Belairdirect OCAA Women's Basketball Championship Website
QUICK LOOK AT THE LORDS
Overall Record: 10-18
Conference Record: 9-8
Next game: Friday, March 2 vs. Fanshawe Falcons (OCAA Championship @ Humber College – 8 p.m.)
