ETOBICOKE, Ont. – The host Humber Hawks (12-6, third in West) began their quest for the school's seventh OCAA title and the first for the school in 20 seasons as they took on the St. Lawrence Vikings (15-3, second in East) on Humber's home court here at their North Campus.
After going 0-16 last season, the Vikings have made one of the most amazing one year turnarounds in OCAA history, clinching second place in their division with the help of OCAA scoring champion Lacey Knox.
The Hawks have only lost twice on this court all season, and look to continue that home court advantage here tonight in what hopes to be a very successful home stand here at the OCAAs.
Humber would come out firing on all cylinders in front of a very big and very loud Humber crowd. They forced three turnovers and jumped to a 7-0 lead at the 5:12 mark. Guard Michelle Asari scored a nifty lay-up that sent the gym into a frenzy, forcing a Vikings timeout with Humber up 9-4. The Viking pulled to within three, but back-to-back threes from guards Maria Suriani and Marie Maranan increased the lead to 10.
Humber led 18-9 by the end of the first quarter on 43 percent shooting from behind the arc.
The high intensity continued in the second quarter with Humber maintaining a 24-15 lead by the 5:30 mark. Humber's rebounding was the big difference maker with forwards Chioma Oriuwa and Brenda Carachure doing their part. Even 5-foot-4 guard Aycha Hammaoui got into the action with a rather impressive rebound over the 5-foot-10 Knox that resulted in a jump ball.
Humber led by as much as 14, but the Vikings slowly started to claw their way back into the game with a couple of free throws that made it 32-22 at the half.
Knox led all scorers with eight points, four rebounds and one assist at the half.
Oriuwa led Humber at the half with six points and six rebounds.
Humber out-rebounded St. Lawrence 29-13 in the first half.
The third quarter started out as a deadlock with both teams committing costly turnovers. Lay-ups from Hammoui and Domingo made it 42-24 with 2:45 remaining in the quarter.
The Vikings would then go on a 10-1 run to make it 43-34 with under a minute to go in the quarter, capped by a Kathleen Chapman basket from a rebound from a missed free throw. Humber responded before the end of the quarter, though, and took a 47-34 into the fourth quarter.
Humber started the fourth with yet another offensive run, outscoring the Vikings 11-8 in the first three minutes. Vikings guard Hayley Goudier got a quick lay-up to make it 58-46 with five minutes to go, but the Hawks proved to be too much on this night. Humber took this game by a final of 66-54.
Player of the Game for Humber went to Oriuwa recording a double-double with 11points and 12 rebounds.
"We were pumped up and ready to go and win this game. Keep our high energy going, rebounding and staying out of foul trouble. If we can do those three things we can go deep in this tournament," said Oriuwa.
Humber head coach Ajay Sharma thought "the energy our team showed today was tremendous and for that I'm very proud of them. As long as we can limit our mental mistakes on turnovers and silly fouls I believe we can beat anybody here this weekend."
Player of the Game honours for St. Lawrence went to Jessica Cetoute who also recorded a double-double with 10 points, 12 rebounds, and one assist.
With the win, Humber will now head to the semi-finals tomorrow at 8 p.m. against the winner of the George Brown/Fanshawe game later tonight.
St. Lawrence will now face the loser of that game in the bronze quarter-finals tomorrow at 3 p.m.
Source: Humber College