TORONTO - In a team game, it was an individual who was the reason for one team's success and another's misery on Friday night in the Newnham Gym.

Lacey Knox of the visiting St. Lawrence Vikings used her size and skill to its fullest, scoring a game-high 23 points as the Vikings defeated the Seneca Sting 54-39.

The Sting knew entering the game that Knox would provide match-up issues for the smaller, quicker Sting line-up. Her versatility to get rebounds inside while shooting from beyond the three-point line spread the Sting defence all night long.

Despite the attention given to Knox, the Sting were still able to play a shutdown-style game during the opening half. Trailing by scores of 14-9 at the end of the first quarter and 22-14 at the half, Seneca still appeared to be in good position to compete for a win.

Just eight players scored during the first half with each team getting scoring from four apiece.  Seneca was led by a trio with four points each in Sarah Givens (Kingston, Ont.), Hamida Tejan-Cole (Toronto) and Melissa Conroy (Pickering, Ont.). Team leading scorer Sharika Smith (Mississauga, Ont.) was held scoreless at the half.

Looking to battle back in the third quarter, Seneca drove the basket and were rewarded with trips to the free throw line. The team shot 9-of-10 from the charity stripe in the quarter, but only made one field goal in the quarter as they fell behind by 11 following a trio of three-point shots by the Vikings in the quarter.

Knox sealed the fate of the Sting in the fourth quarter with a 13-point effort, shooting 6-of-7 from the free throw line to go with three field goals. The Sting had contributions from six players in the fourth quarter, but it would not be enough as they fell by 15.

Givens led the Sting with 10 points and six steals, but turned the ball over seven times. Smith managed eight points, all coming in the second half. Ashley Nurse (Toronto) had seven rebounds and two steals.

The Sting will travel to Algonquin on Friday, Nov. 29 at 6 p.m. while the Vikings will travel to George Brown tomorrow at 1 p.m.

Source: Seneca College