Jan. 20 Niagara College Report
The Niagara College Knights women’s basketball team remained tied for first in the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association with a 10-1 record following a 76-60 road win over the Sheridan Bruins.
“Give Sheridan credit, they are much improved throughout the season and played a physical game,” Niagara head coach Kimbal Mackenzie said. “Proud of our group for showing toughness and trusting each other in a good road win.”
Leading the way for Niagara were: Janee Harrison with 16 points, 10 rebounds and three assists in 26 minutes; Taryn Mitchell with 18 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals in 25 minutes; and, Eremwon Destiny with 13 points, three rebounds, and a block in 17 minutes. Mitchell was named Niagara College’s Female Athlete of the Week for her performance and Destiny was selected as Niagara’s player of the game.
“Whether you win or lose, every basketball game is a lesson learned. It’s unpredictable and filled with hungry teams who are willing to fight, and only the team who is fighting more physically and mentally will endure until the final buzzer,” Destiny said.
Niagara is at Fanshawe (6-5) Wednesday before hosting the Conestoga Condors (2-10) Friday at 6 p.m.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Niagara’s men’s basketball team (6-6) got back to .500 in league action with a 76-62 road win over the Sheridan Bruins.
“Definitely our best team win this season. We came out and held a top offensive team to 62 points and we shot 50 per cent from three, our best all season,” Niagara head coach Lequan Hylton said. “If we are able to continue to put a full 40 minutes together every game, we will be very hard to beat.”
Performing well for Niagara were: Riley Bleich with 15 points, three rebounds and a steal in 26 minutes; Raheem Dennis with 12 points, eight rebounds, three assists, a steal and two blocks in 24 minutes; and, Skylar Samuel with 17 points and five rebounds in 31 minutes.
Niagara is at Fanshawe (4-9) Wednesday before hosting the Conestoga Condors (1-12) Friday at 8 p.m.
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
Niagara’s women’s volleyball squad sits third in the OCAA West with a 9-5 record after splitting a pair of games last week.
Niagara lost 3-0 (14-25, 20-25 and 23-25) to Humber and recorded a 3-0 victory (25-17, 25-17 and 25-20) over Sheridan.
“The ladies are in a good space right now and staying focused on the big picture,” Niagara head coach Steve Stone said. “(They were) competing and under control in both those matches while building for the playoffs.”
Playing well for Niagara against Humber were: Kyleigh Baxter with seven points on six kills, five digs and a service ace; Montanna Taylor with five points on two kills, 14 assists, two service aces, seven digs and a block; and, Tess Kelly with six points on a kill, three digs, three service aces and two blocks.
Leading the way versus Sheridan were: Sam Cormier with 18 points on nine kills, nine blocks, three digs and three assists; Abbey Gooder with 17 points on 10 kills, 17 digs, four service aces, three blocks and an assist; and, Aja Zambiasi with six points on six kills, 15 digs and two assists.
Niagara’s Senior Night will be played Wednesday at 6 p.m. against the visiting Conestoga Condors (5-10). Niagara will also host the St. Clair Saints (13-2) Saturday at 1 p.m.
MEN’S VOLLEYBALL
The fifth-place Niagara College’s men’s volleyball team (8-6) had a 1-1 record last week.
The Knights fell 3-2 (29-27, 20-25, 25-27, 30-28 and 9-15) to the Humber Hawks and defeated the Sheridan Bruins 3-0 (25-20, 25-22 and 25-18).
“Our squad is fighting hard for the playoff push,” Niagara head coach Steve Stone said “We’re definitely battling through a flu bug right now but it’s a testament to our depth that we can just keep on going and compete at a high level.”
Topping the stat sheet for Niagara against Humber were: Liam Marchetti with 15 points on 14 kills, three digs, one block and an assist; Wizdom Smith with 15 points on 13 kills, 12 digs and two blocks; and, Leiland Parenteau with one point on one kill, 14 digs and 46 assists.
Leading the way versus Sheridan were: Parenteau with 30 assists and 14 digs; Smith with 16 points on 13 kills, four digs, a block and two service aces; and, Ashton Nieuwets with 18 points on 14 kills, 14 digs, two blocks, two service aces and an assist.
For his play, Parenteau, who made his first OCAA career start against Humber, was named Niagara College’s Male Athlete of the Week.
Niagara’s Senior Night will be played Wednesday at 8 p.m. against the visiting Conestoga Condors (10-5). Niagara will also host the St. Clair Saints (5-10) Saturday at 3 p.m.
