KINGSTON, Ont. - On Saturday night in the belairdirect OCAA Women's Basketball Championship provincial final, the No. 1 CCAA-ranked Fanshawe women's basketball team (23-1, 1st in West) prevailed over the St. Clair Saints (15-9, 4th in West) by a final score of 78-72 in Kingston, Ont. The OCAA championship was the first for Fanshawe's women's basketball program in 16 years (2002-03).
On Thursday, the Falcons defeated the host St. Lawrence Vikings (6-13, 5th in West) in a quarter-final game, 91-51, with London, Ont., native Natalie Warren being named player of the game for her excellent performance. Warren notched 17 points (8-of-11 from the field) in 18 minutes and added six rebounds. In the semifinal on Friday, Fanshawe won 80-39 over eventual bronze medalist Niagara (14-10, 5th in West). Chuot Angou (London, Ont.) was named player of the game with 14 points, shooting 50 per cent from the field.
In Saturday's final against St. Clair, Fanshawe got off to a quick 5-0 start and led 20-15 after the first quarter. The tightly contested game was reflective of the talent on both sides of the court. At the half, the Falcons held a 33-29 lead. The Saints would continue to chip away in the third and closed Fanshawe's lead to three by the end of the quarter, 54-51.
In a very intense final frame with a number of lead changes, St. Clair led 69-67 with just under five minutes to play. With the Falcons gold medal hopes on the line, Claire Dechet (Sarnia, Ont.) stepped up and nailed a three-pointer with 4:43 left to put the red and white up one. Fanshawe's Mary Ingribelli (St. Catherine's, Ont.) then hit a shot clock buzzer-beater to give the Falcons a three-point lead that they would not relinquish. Dechet was named Fanshawe's player of the game in the final for her outstanding play on both ends of the floor. As a team, the Falcons shot 43.1 per cent from the field, 56.3 per cent from beyond the arc and 81.3 per cent from the line, including going 6-of-6 in the fourth quarter. Angou led Fanshawe with 20 points in the game. She was named the Championship MVP and teammate Laura Vere (Stratford, Ont.) was named a Championship All-Star.
The No. 1-ranked Falcons will now represent Ontario at the CCAA national championship from March 14-16 in Quebec City, hosted by Sainte Foy.
Championship All-Stars
Bridget Atkinson, Niagara Knights
Jana Kucera, St. Clair Saints
Kim Moroun, St. Clair Saints
Laura Vere, Fanshawe Falcons
Championship MVP
Chuot Angou, Fanshawe Falcons
Source: Fanshawe Falcons
Championship Website: www.ocaa.com/wbb
Championship Results
Thursday, February 28
Quarter-Finals
St. Clair def. Algonquin 88-79
Durham def. Humber 68-59
Fanshawe def. St. Lawrence 91-51
Niagara def. Sheridan 69-55
Friday, March 1
Consolation Round
Algonquin def. Humber 63-46
Sheridan def. St. Lawrence 56-50
Semi-Finals
St. Clair def. Durham 71-51
Fanshawe def. Niagara 80-39
Saturday, March 2
Consolation Final
Sheridan def. Algonquin 82-56
Bronze Medal Game
Niagara def. Durham 99-55
Gold Medal Game
Fanshawe def. St. Clair 78-72
- OCAA -
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Ontario Colleges Athletic Association
Tel: 416-426-7041
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E-mail: bell-webster@ocaa.com