HAWKS RIDE FOURTH QUARTER SURGE TO NINTH STRAIGHT WIN
The Hawks picked up their ninth straight win with a huge fourth quarter performance over the Lambton Lions. Despite trailing for the first two quarters Humber found their way thanks to 17 points and 4-for-9 three point shooting from Natalie Hagopian and 14 points and eight boards from Llyandra Kerr.
Lambton came out attacking and took a quick 4-0 lead. Humber settled in once forward Llyandra Kerr and shooting guard Natalie Hagopian stepped in to rack up Humber's first seven points to tie the game. Centre Jill Semple came off the bench with a huge defensive stop and a double handed block to gain some much needed control for the Hawks. But Lambton's ball sharing got all five starters on the board and the Lions reached a 14-10 lead at the buzzer.
Humber let foul trouble get the best of them and Lambton scored nine free points at the charity stripe. The Hawks fought back with the hot hands of Kerr and Hagopian for seven clutch points and tied the game at 21 apiece. Hawks defence shut down Lambton's ball movement and closed the open lane but the Lions worked around it and went on a 6-0 run to end the half leading the Hawks 27-21.
The Blue and Gold were still plagued by the scoring drought from the second quarter but found their groove from Captain C.J. Nofuente. The guard took the game into her own hands and did her damage from the free throw line for four game changing points. Humber had their biggest lead of the game as they outscored the Lions 15-10 to pull within one point of Lambton's 37 point lead.
The Hawks completely turned their game around and found their spark with two three's from Hagopian and two drives from forward Aleena Domingo to jump their biggest lead at 51-41. The Lions crept back to a 57-50 margin with three minutes left in the game but the Hawks surged for 26 points in the frame. Nofuente sealed the deal when she was fouled taking a three and made all three shots at the line. Humber won 62-54.
The Hawks will be back on the court for the OCAA's biggest rivalry when they visit the Sheridan Bruins for a 6 p.m. tip-off.
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