WELCOME BACK

Durham third-year guard Lindsay Panchan (Ajax, Ont.), forced out of the lineup for three games due to injury, came back in a big way, albeit in a 71-69 overtime loss to Centennial.

Panchan, who scored 31 points in her last regular season game, a 61-58 win over George Brown on Dec. 3, duplicated her efforts, scoring 31 in the loss to the Colts. She shot 55.6 per cent from the floor, and a perfect 10-of-10 from the free throw line.

Panchan's return is significant, not just for Durham's benefit. Only two scoring champions in OCAA history have averaged 25 points per game or better. Panchan is currently averaging 25.7 PPG with four games to play.

The best single season average on record was 26.0 PPG, set by Algoma's Danielle D'Ettorre in 2006-07.

Durham was 2-1 without Panchan in the lineup.

DOUBLE TROUBLE

Entering the final month of the regular season, four players in the OCAA are averaging a double double.

Lambton second-year forward Melissa Ellis (Sarnia, Ont.) leads the OCAA in rebounding averaging 12.6 per game, including 9.0 from the defensive glass. On the other end of the court, Ellis is averaging 11.7 points per game. Ellis had a string of six consecutive double doubles snapped in her last game.

Second-year post player Samantha Reid (Toronto) of Centennial is tops among east players averaging 12.3 rebounds per game. She also has a 15.7 points per game average to lead all Colts.

Humber fourth-year power forward Llyandra Kerr (Scarborough, Ont.) is averaging 12.3 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. West region rival Courtney McPherson (Welland, Ont.) of Niagara, a fourth-year forward, is averaging 11.4 points and 10.2 per game.

WIN AND THEY'RE IN?

Seneca and Georgian may have more combined losses than wins this season, but that doesn't make Tuesday's meeting between the two programs any less important.

Seneca (5-7) currently holds the sixth and final playoff spot in the east region, with Georgian (4-7) closely behind. It's an opportunity for either team to take a firm grip on a post-season berth with less than three weeks remaining in the regular season.

Seneca won at Georgian 55-48 back on Nov. 28. Second-year players Eboni Beals (Ajax, Ont.) and Raye McNeilly (Toronto) combined for 26 rebounds in a winning cause.

Seneca's Kelley Nichols (Lennoxville, Que.) and Georgian's Mackenzie Merkley (Guelph, Ont.) recorded game-highs with 17 points each.

CLINCH MOB

Algonquin and St. Lawrence-Kingston locked up playoff berths in the OCAA east region, joining championship host Centennial in the post-season.

In the west region, Humber joined Mohawk as the only two teams assured of a playoff berth at regular season's end.

With their next win (or Lambton Lions loss), the Fanshawe Falcons and Sheridan Bruins will also clinch a playoff berth. The top six teams in each region advances to the post-season. If Centennial should drop from the top six, the top five teams from the east advance.

The OCAA championship takes place at Centennial College from March 5-7.

RECENT RESULTS

UPCOMING GAMES

Source: OCAA Communications