By Bobby Mihalik
Humber Athletics Sports Information
ETOBICOKE, ON - Day One of the 2018 OCAA women’s basketball championship at Humber College Athletic Centre in Etobicoke, Ont. concluded Friday night with a quarter-final matchup between the Durham Lords (9-8, 3rd East) and the Fanshawe Falcons (17-3, 2nd West). Playing a dominant game from the outset, the Falcons defeated the Lords 93-62 and advanced to the semi-finals.
From the start of the first quarter, the Falcons were in control. Scoring 20 straight points to open the game, the Falcons held the Lords scoreless for the majority of the quarter. The Lords would put up five points in the final three minutes of the first, but the Falcons took a commanding 31-5 lead into the second.
The Falcons’ overpowering offence slowed in the second, allowing the Lords a chance to make up ground on the scoreboard. While the Lords outscored the Falcons in the second with four minutes remaining in the half, the Falcons took command once again. Scoring nine straight points, the Falcons put more distance between themselves and the Lords before closing out the half with a score of 51-20.
While the Lords’ gradual improvement continued, scoring almost as much in the third as they did in the entire first half, they were unable to gain any significant ground on the Falcons, whose overwhelming offence carried on unabated. Adding another 25 points to their total, the Falcons took a 76-39 lead into the fourth quarter.
Opening the fourth scoring six straight points, the Falcons erased any hopes of a Lords comeback as they continued to rack up points. The Lords would ultimately outscore the Falcons in the fourth, 23-17, but the deficit proved to be insurmountable, and the Falcons took the match 93-62, advancing to the semi-finals.
The Falcons finished with 47.3 percent (35-of-74) shooting from the field, 73.1 percent (19-of-26) from the free-throw line and converted 30.8 percent (4-of-13) of their three-point attempts. The Lords shot 31 percent (22-of-71) from the field and made 33.3 percent (7-of-21) of their three-point shots.
Mikhaila Wright, who was named Fanshawe’s Player of the Game, led her team with 19 points and 15 rebounds for a double-double and had four assists and four blocks. Claire Dechet and Chuot Angou had 14 and 12 points each for the Falcons.
Dekota Kirby led the Lords with 18 points, six rebounds, and five assists, and was named the Player of the Game for Durham. Maddie Dender and Alyssa Navarro both had seven points.
With the win, the Falcons advance to a semi-final matchup with the Niagara Knights, with tip-off scheduled for 8 p.m. Saturday. The Lords will face the George Brown Huskies in the consolation round at 3 p.m. on Saturday.
