TORONTO - Seneca College in Toronto plays host to the 2012
Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) Women's Basketball
Championship, beginning Thursday and running through Saturday.
Eight teams will vie for the OCAA title, including the host Seneca
Sting and defending champion Algonquin Thunder.
A total of 12 games will be played in a span of three days as the
OCAA introduces a new "backdoor" bronze medal format, similar to
its volleyball championships. Following the OCAA awards banquet on
Thursday morning, the OCAA quarter-finals will take place beginning
at 1 p.m. Losing teams will compete in the bronze medal
quarter-finals on Friday, followed by the OCAA semi-final games.
The bronze medal semi-finals and final will take place on Saturday
leading into the OCAA gold medal game.
Fans who are unable to attend the games live can follow the
proceedings via webcast. Visit the championship
website for further information.
The OCAA champion and silver medalist advance to the Canadian
Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Women's Basketball National
Championship, taking place in Lethbridge, Alta., from March
15-17.
Here is a look at the OCAA quarter-final match-ups:
George Brown (11-5, 3rd East) vs. Algoma (15-3, 2nd
West)
Thursday, March 1 - 1 p.m.
Algoma enters the OCAA tournament on a hot streak, winning 11 of
12 games. Third-year guard Corina Bruni (Sault
Ste. Marie, Ont.) had a strong regular season for Algoma, ranking
fourth among OCAA players with 264 points, third in steals with 65
and second in assists with 84.
George Brown has won four of its last five games, including a
70-37 home win over Lambton in the OCAA qualifying round.
Second-year forward Aria Charles (Toronto) led the
Huskies with 159 points, 99 rebounds and 13 blocks during the
regular season.
Algoma's best finish in the OCAA tournament came in 2007 when the
Thunderbirds were awarded a silver medal. George Brown was an OCAA
powerhouse in the 1970s, but have not won an OCAA medal since
earning bronze in 1990.
These squads met in the qualifying round last year, with George
Brown winning at home 46-35. The winner of this quarter-final plays
the winner of the Humber-Algonquin game.
Humber (13-5, 4th West) vs. Algonquin (15-1, 1st
East)
Thursday, March 1 - 3 p.m.
Defending champion Algonquin has the longest active win streak in
the OCAA, winning 15 straight games. Spanning two seasons, the
Thunder have won 36 of 38 in regular season as well as OCAA and
CCAA post-season play.
Humber had a perfect February winning eight straight games,
including a 64-48 home victory over Durham in the OCAA qualifying
round.
Algonquin third-year forward Sandre Bascoe
(Ottawa) led her team in three statistical categories, including
points (258), rebounds (157) and steals (64). Second-year teammate
Stacey Poapst (Brockville, Ont.) was the OCAA
co-leader in blocks with 30. Humber first-year forward
Atissa Cronk (Kingston, Ont.) was one of four OCAA
players to average a double-double during the regular season,
averaging 11.4 points and 10.0 rebounds per game.
Algonquin is currently ranked No. 9 in Canada. The winner of this
quarter-final plays the winner of the George Brown-Algoma game.
Sheridan (13-5, 3rd West) vs. Seneca (15-1, 2nd
East)
Thursday, March 1 - 6 p.m.
Seneca puts its 7-1 home record on the line against Sheridan.
Seneca third-year centre Tamara Nembhard
(Toronto) earned a team-high 221 points and 118 rebounds during the
regular season. Fourth-year teammate Samantha
Evans (Scarborough, Ont.) led the OCAA with 80 steals. The
Sting have won seven straight.
Sheridan fourth-year guard Nakia Arthur
(Brampton, Ont.) led all OCAA players with 417 points, and was
second in three-pointers shooting 48-of-182 from beyond the arc.
The Bruins have won four straight, including an 89-53 sudden death
win over Fleming-Peterborough in the qualifying round.
Sheridan scored an OCAA-high 1,315 points during the regular
season. Seneca allowed a league-low 626 points. Sheridan and Seneca
combined have won five of the last six OCAA championships. Seneca
is currently ranked No. 11 in the nation.
The winner of this quarter-final plays the winner of the
Loyalist-Fanshawe game.
Loyalist (10-6, 4th East) vs. Fanshawe (16-2, 1st
West)
Thursday, March 1 - 8 p.m.
Fanshawe has dominated OCAA West region play this season, with
their only losses coming against Algoma.
Third-year forward Natasha Amo (Toronto)
contributed a team-high 224 points and 97 rebounds for the
Falcons.
Loyalist defeated Niagara at home 55-49 in the OCAA qualifying
round to earn a spot at the championship. As she has all season,
second-year centre Samantha Goff (Lindsay, Ont.)
was strong on the glass, grabbing 16 rebounds. She earned a
team-high 115 boards during the regular season. First-year player
Jenni Thompson (Belleville, Ont.) led the Lancers
in scoring averaging 14.9 points per game.
Both teams enter the quarter-final round on three game win
streaks. Fanshawe is ranked No. 14 in Canada.
The winner of this quarter-final plays the winner of the
Sheridan-Seneca game.
OCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
SCHEDULE
Thursday, March 1
OCAA Awards Banquet - Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites
Toronto-Markham - 9 a.m.
Quarter-Finals
Game 1 - George Brown vs. Algoma - 1 p.m.
Game 2 - Humber vs. Algonquin - 3 p.m.
Game 3 - Sheridan vs. Seneca - 6 p.m.
Game 4 - Loyalist vs. Fanshawe - 8 p.m.
Friday, March
2
Bronze Quarter-Finals
Game 5 - Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2 - 1 p.m.
Game 6 - Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4 - 3 p.m.
Semi-Finals
Game 7 - Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2 - 6 p.m.
Game 8 - Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4 - 8 p.m.
Saturday, March
3
Bronze Semi-Finals
Game 9 - Loser Game 7 vs. Winner Game 6 - 9 a.m.
Game 10 - Loser Game 8 vs. Winner Game 5 - 11 a.m.
Bronze Medal Match
Game 11 - Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10 - 4 p.m.
Gold Medal Match
Game 12 - Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8 - 6 p.m.
- OCAA -
ABOUT ONTARIO COLLEGES ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) is a recognized
leader in intercollegiate athletics in the province, dedicated to
student athlete and sport development. The OCAA has 31 members
sponsoring 16 league and tournament championships.
For additional information please contact:
Josh Bell-Webster
Marketing and Communications
Ontario Colleges Athletic Association
Tel: 416-426-7041
Fax: 416-426-7308
E-mail: bell-webster@ocaa.com