HUMBER ROLLS PAST DYNAMIQUES INTO NATIONAL SEMI-FINAL
The Hawks made a statement in their opening game at the CCAA National Championship with a 73-62 victory over the Cegep Sainte-Foy Dynamiques. The Hawks found their second defensive wind in the fourth quarter with strong drives and rebounding. Mary Asare was named Player of the Game for a 19 point performance and Atissa Cronk carried part of the load with 13 points, six rebounds and shooting 5-for-5 from the free throw line and perfect from the field.
Humber got in front with an early three pointer from forward Mary Asare but couldn't match a five point run from Sainte-Foy. The Hawks trailed as much 11-4 after getting into turnover and foul trouble and continued less than par play to an 18-11 Sainte-Foy lead. The Dynamiques held that lead to the end of the quarter but Humber had a last second three pointer from shooting guard Natalie Hagopian to light a fire for the next 12 minutes.
Guard Shan Wilson heated up for a team leading eight points to tie the game at 18 apiece and later pushed the Hawks in front with a three from the corner. The Hawks held the Dynamiques scoreless for three minutes with Wilson pushing Sainte-Foy to make a few trips to the free throw line. The Dynamiques threatened to take back the lead with a six point run but Humber's defence came alive with a massive rejection by forward Ruth Holland on a Sainte-Foy drive to the basket. The block slowed Sainte-Foy down but they still managed to make it a one point game with a minute and a half left. But a costly Humber turnover led to a sloppy foul that sent the Dynamiques to the line to take a 30-29 lead into the half.
Guard Ceejay Nofuente got Humber moving again with a long three to come within two points of Sainte-Foy's 36 point lead. The Hawks finally got around Sainte-Foy's bigs who clogged the paint and Asare drew the first foul of the quarter on a strong drive to the hoop. The Hawks caught a break with a technical foul but missed both free throws but somehow turned the game around leading to a clutch three pointer from Nofuente to take a one point lead. Ahead 42-41 the intensity of Humber's defence turned up a notch and stopped two Dynamiques chances with a steal from Cronk and a charge from Holland. Hagopian stepped up with a three to tie the game at 44 apiece and Humber stuck with Sainte-Foy for another stuff on an offensive rebound attempt. The Hawks had the last shot but couldn't take a lead into the final frame, keeping the game tied at 44-44.
Humber shot off to a 48-44 lead for their largest margin of the game and it came from multiple aggressive drives that drew three Sainte-Foy fouls. Asare made three game changing free throws after being fouled on the perimeter that put the Hawks ahead 52-46. Next possession had Asare drain a clean three from the corner and make the Hawks' largest lead 55-48 with six minutes to go. Humber's posts were night and day from the first half and made the biggest impact in the quarter. Forward Llyandra Kerr and Cronk fought for consecutive baskets and the Dynamiques defenders couldn't match their strength. The Hawks went on a 9-3 point run and left Sainte-Foy behind for the 73-64 win.
The Hawks will play the national first place seed Montmorency College Nomads tomorrow at 6 p.m. PST, 9 p.m. EST.
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