Late rally sends No. 7 Humber to the OCAA semifinal round
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Conestoga (0-1, 0-1) | 15 | 10 | 14 | 17 | 56 |
|
Humber (1-0, 1-0) | 12 | 11 | 12 | 25 | 60 |
WELLAND – No. 7 Humber women's basketball squeezed out a tough OCAA quarter-final victory over Conestoga Friday afternoon, 60-56, earning a spot in the semifinal round on March 4.
A strong second half from Kia Watt helped the Hawks advance, as the All-Canadian recorded a double-double, finishing with a team-high 21 points and 11 boards. Senior Brittney English filled the stat sheet as well, finishing with 12 points, eight rebounds, and six steals.
It wasn't the first time Humber basketball struggled offensively to begin a game this season, needing time to shake off the rust after six days off from competition. The Hawks had trouble converting over the first 20 minutes of action, despite dominating Conestoga on the glass and in time of possession. At the break, the Hawks trailed 25-22, finishing 0-for-14 from beyond the arc.
After another ten minutes of sub-25 per cent shooting from the floor, the Hawks were facing an early exit from the conference tournament. With 7:59 remaining in the game, Kia Watt converted both free throws to give Humber its first lead of the game. The lead didn't last long as the Condors went on a 7-0 run over the next two minutes of game time. A time-out by Coach Sharma got Humber's defence back on track, forcing Conestoga into quick turnovers and transition baskets to chip away at the lead. A corner triple from Brittney English brought the Hawks back to within one with less than a minute remaining.
After another timeout, Kia Watt drove to the basket for a contested left-handed layup, putting Humber up 57-56.
Conestoga's final possession was cut short by Brittney English, who forced her sixth turnover of the game. After the steal, English iced the game for Humber, hitting both free throws from the line.
Humber Highlights
- The Hawks improve to 11-2 in the quarter-final round during the Coach Sharma era.
- Humber extends its OCAA postseason win streak to seven straight games.
- Kia Watt recorded her fourth career double-double, tying her career-high with 11 rebounds.
- Humber improves to 2-0 all-time against Conestoga in the postseason.
What's Next?
No. 7 Humber will now face Fanshawe in the semifinal round on Mar. 4 at 3:30 p.m. The Hawks are 7-5 all-time against the Falcons in the OCAA playoffs.
