WINDSOR, Ont. - St. Clair (7-2) defeated Niagara (6-2) by a score of 71-50.

The St. Clair Women's Basketball completed the first half of the OCAA West region regular season before the holiday well with a 71-50 victory over Niagara College Saturday night at the campus gym.

With the win, St. Clair moved into a second-place tie with Fanshawe in the standings and just a game behind Humber.

The Lady Saints started hot in this contest and quickly created a double-digit lead with Kendyl Rizea (Windsor, Ont./Vincent Massey) scoring 11 points in the opening frame. However, Niagara closed out the first quarter with an eight-point run and the Saints only ahead 22-18 heading into the second quarter.

St. Clair got it rolling in the second quarter led by top scorer Jaide Lyons (Windsor, Ont./F.J. Brennan) who scored eight points helping her team into the half time break with a comfortable 42-28 advantage.

Niagara never threatened again as the Saints increased the deficit in the third quarter and cruised to the victory down the stretch. St. Clair outshot Niagara from the floor for the game 45 percent to 25 percent. But the game was decided in the first half where the Saints shot 50 percent.

Rizea finished with a game-high 22 points adding five rebounds to pace the Saints offensively.  Jessica Gordon (London, Ont./Mother Teresa) was consistent throughout the game scoring 16 points to go with eight rebounds in one of her best games of the season. Kelly Rizea (Windsor, Ont./Vincent Massey) distributed well from the point guard spot dishing out seven assists for the Saints who got easy buckets in transistion for much of the game. Niagara's Shelby Johnston had 17 points in a losing effort.

Following the exam break the St. Clair women's basketball team will travel to Macomb C.C. (Warren, Mich.) on Dec. 20 for an exhibition game.

Source: St. Clair College