LETHBRIDGE, Alta. - It proved to be the ultimate rubber match.

The only loss suffered by Algonquin during its 2011-12 women's basketball regular season was in its home opener at the hands of Seneca. Ironically, Seneca's only regular season defeat came at home against Algonquin in the new year.

Fittingly, these 15-1 teams met for a third time in the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) gold medal game at Seneca. Even more fittingly, these teams battled to double overtime as Algonquin prevailed 62-57 to earn its second straight OCAA crown.

What can the Thunder and Sting do for an encore? Meet again one more time, this time with a national title at stake.

Both Algonquin and Seneca take on Canada's top collegiate teams at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Women's Basketball National Championship beginning Thursday at Lethbridge College in Alberta.

A lot will need to happen for a fourth meeting to occur, but recent history is on the side of Algonquin. The Thunder advanced to the CCAA final last year before settling for a silver medal.

Algonquin is led by OCAA player of the year and CCAA All-Canadian Sandre Bascoe. A third-year forward, Bascoe (Ottawa) ranked fourth among OCAA players during the regular season in steals with 64, fifth in points with 258, and sixth in rebounds with 157. She was also second in the league with a 50.5 field goal percentage, and ranked fourth with a 16.1 points per game average.

Bascoe had eight double-doubles during the regular season, and added two more during the OCAA championship, en route to being named Tournament MVP. She is also an OCAA East Division first-team all-star. Teammate Trish Grey (Ottawa) earned tournament all-star honours. Grey averaged 11.3 points per game during the championship, including 16 points in the finale against Seneca.

Seneca boasts a pair of OCAA East Division first-team all-stars in Samantha Evans and Tamara Nembhard. A fourth-year point guard, Evans (Scarborough, Ont.) was the East defensive player of the year, leading the OCAA with 80 steals. She also contributed 89 rebounds. She was also named a tournament all-star. Nembhard led the Sting with a 13.8 points per game average, contributing 118 rebounds, good for 11th in the OCAA.

Both Algonquin and Seneca are on the opposite ends of the CCAA bracket, meaning a fourth meeting between these teams won't happen until Saturday. Both the Thunder and Sting would need to win their first two games to square off in the CCAA gold medal game.

Algonquin and Seneca are ranked No. 6 and 8, respectively. Seneca opens against the No. 1-seeded Alberta champion MacEwan Griffins at 3 p.m. MT, while Algonquin plays No. 3 Pacific champion UNBC Timberwolves at 8 p.m. MT.

No OCAA team has won a national championship in women's basketball. Only four OCAA teams have earned CCAA medals since 1978.

All games will be webcast on sportscanada.tv.

CCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Championship Website: ccaawomensbasketball2012.ca

Seeding
1. MacEwan Griffins (ACAC champion / Edmonton, Alta.)

2. Dawson Blues (RSEQ champion/ Montreal, Que.)

3. UNBC Timberwolves (PACWEST champion/ Prince George, B.C.)
4. Dynamiques Sainte-Foy (RSEQ silver/ Sainte Foy, Que.)
5. St Thomas Tommies (ACAA champion/ Fredericton, N.B.)

6. Algonquin Thunder (OCAA champion/ Nepean, Ont.)

7. Lethbridge Kodiaks (host/ Lethbridge, Alta.)

8. Seneca Sting (OCAA silver/ Toronto, Ont.)

Schedule (all times MT)
Thursday, March 15
Game 1 - Dynamiques Sainte-Foy vs. St. Thomas Tommies - 1 p.m.
Game 2 - MacEwan Griffins vs. Seneca Sting - 3 p.m.
Game 3 - Dawson Blues vs. Lethbridge Kodiaks  - 6 p.m.
Game 4 - UNBC Timberwolves vs. Algonquin Thunder - 8 p.m.

Friday, March 16
Game 5 - Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2 - 1 p.m.
Game 6 - Loser of Game 3 vs. Loser of Game 4 - 3 p.m.
Game 7 - Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 (Semi-Final) - 6 p.m.
Game 8 - Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4 (Semi-Final) - 8 p.m.

Saturday, March 17
Game 9 - Loser of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 6 - 10 a.m.
Game 10 - Loser of Game 8 vs. Winner of Game 5 - 12 p.m.
Game 11 - Loser of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 6 (7th/8th place) - 2 p.m.
Game 12 - Winner of Game 9 vs. Winner of Game 10 (Bronze Medal) - 6 p.m.
Game 13 - Winner of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 8 (Gold Medal) - 8 p.m.

With files from Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association

- 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