No. 12 Women's Basketball earns spot in Final Four

By: William Shoukri
Humber Athletics Communications

ETOBICOKE - No. 12 women's basketball (16-2) dominated its OCAA quarter-final matchup, blowing out the Loyalist Lancers (11-5), 84-62. The stars were on display at the Hawks Nest on Sunday, with four starting players hitting double-digits for the first time this season. Kia Watt led the game with 23 points, and Marley Bonnick was the player of the game, scoring 12 and adding 10 rebounds for the double-double. 

Game Recap 

Getting its first look at the Lancers this season, Humber came out hot for the start of its quarter-final matchup. 

The Hawks quickly discovered that Loyalists played a similar style defensively. The Lancers and the Hawks are top-three in steals, and both squads employ a pressure-focused system intent on causing turnovers. 

Humber had the edge early on; the Hawks forced turnovers and cut off passes through the midcourt. Humber created a lead early in the quarter and steadily built on it before blowing the doors off the quarter with a 14-3 run in the final four minutes. 

Back for the second, Loyalist needed to close the gap, or its bid for an OCAA medal would be over. 

Unfortunately for the Lancers, Humber decided to lock down defensively. Approaching the midway point of the quarter, the Lancers had only mustered three points. Kia Watt had seven in the quarter at that point herself. 

Now trailing 37-16, frustration was boiling over for Loyalist. Humber was hauling passes down the court and creating baskets in seconds. The Lancers were forced to the outside and struggled to get shots off. 

The Hawks out-hustled the Lancers, and the score showed it. Humber padded the lead until halftime; by then, Humber had nearly doubled up on Loyalist, leading 50-26. 

Kia Watt was dominating, the fifth-year guard had 15 at halftime and had added four rebounds and three assists. 

Loyalist showed resolve in the third. The Lancers were having their best scoring quarter so far, but Humber was still pulled away. The Hawks weren't dominating like they had in the first half, but they still piled buckets on the Lancers. 

Humber led 70-47 after 30 minutes of play thanks to double digits from four of the starting five. 

The story was the same in the fourth. Loyalist proved its character, playing hard until the final buzzer, but Humber was too hot. Buckets from all over the lineup punctuated the quarter as Humber showed its poise and professionalism, closing out its quarter-final match 84-62. 

Humber Highlights

• Women's basketball has made the gold medal game six times in the last ten years.
• Humber is now 15-1 all-time against Loyalist, the Hawks have not lost to the Lancers since 2003.
• This was the first time Humber has met Loyalist in the playoffs since 2009.
• Humber is now 13-6 all-time in the quarter-final; the Hawks have won four of their last five appearances. 
• Humber is averaging an astounding 86.25 PPG over its last four games.
• The Hawks have won 16 of their last 17.
• Kia Watt and Sarah Baptie are both top-five in steals.
• Kia Watt is in the top five in four different offensive and defensive statistics. 

What's Next?

No. 12 Women's basketball has punched its ticket to the OCAA semi-finals. The Hawks will face off against host Algonquin (14-0, 1^st East) on Friday, February 28, 2025.