Feb. 6 Niagara College Report: Basketball and volleyball
The Niagara College men’s basketball team improved to 8-6 in Ontario Colleges Athletic Association regular season play with a 67-64 victory over Humber.
“A much-needed win for us tonight on the road at Humber,” Niagara head coach Phil Mosley said. “Our guys held off a fourth-quarter rally by Humber by displaying discipline and grit in the last few minutes of the game to seal the victory. Our defensive effort carried us throughout the game.”
The Knights jumped out to a 20-8 lead in the first quarter and were able to hang on to the victory by getting barely outscored in each of the final three quarters.
Top performers for Niagara were: Ethan Alino-DelaCruz with 16 points and five rebounds off the bench; Reggie Williams with 13 points; Delroy Grandison with 11 points; and, Marquise Lara-Caston with eight points. Kenneth Reckley was Niagara’s top rebounder with eight.
This week, Niagara hosts Conestoga (9-5) Wednesday at 8 p.m. and is at Fanshawe (3-11) on Saturday.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Niagara’s women’s basketball team gave unbeaten Humber (13-0) all it could handle before coming up on the losing end of a 62-51 decision.
Niagara (6-6) led 14-7 after one quarter and 35-26 at the half before Humber came storming back by outscoring the Knights 19-2 in the third quarter and 36-16 in the second half.
Leading the way for Niagara were: Taryn Mitchell with 15 points and seven rebounds; Molly Taylor with 12 points and 15 boards; Jamira Rousseau with 10 points; Diana Saoud with seven points; and, Janee Harrison with six points and six rebounds.
The Knights hosts Conestoga (6-7) Wednesday at 6 p.m. and are at Fanshawe (8-5) on Saturday.
MEN’S VOLLEYBALL
Niagara’s men’s volleyball team’s record fell back to .500 after a pair of home losses last week.
Niagara (8-8) fell 3-0 (22-25. 20-25 and 23-25) to Humber (11-5) and then dropped a 3-1 (25-27, 25-19, 20-25 and 22-25) decision to Mohawk (10-7). Top scorers for the Knights against Humber were Dallas Melnick (14), Elijah Bugiardini (14) and Ashton Nieuwets (5). Melnick led the way with 11 kills and Bugiardini had nine.
Against Mohawk, Niagara’s top point getters were Melnick (20), Tiernan Currie (9), Ashton Nieuwets (9) and Bugiardini (8). Melnick had 16 kills in the loss and Bugiardini contributed seven.
Eden graduate Peter Pilling had five points for Mohawk.
The Knights are at Cambrian (11-5) Saturday.
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
Niagara’s women’s volleyball team (9-7) mirrored the week of the men’s squad losing 3-0 (20-25, 21-25 and 21-25) to unbeaten Humber (16-0) and 3-1 (21-25, 25-22, 15-25 and 25-27) to Mohawk (10-7).
Top scorers for the Knights against Humber were Montanna Taylor (7), Hope Nicholson (7), Abbey Gooder (6) and Annastasia Droppert (6). Droppert led the way with six kills while Taylor, Nicholson and Natasha Desjardins had five each.
Topping the points list for Niagara versus Mohawk were Taylor (21), Nicholson (10), Hannah Cowie (7) and Vanja Kljajic (7). Taylor had 15 kills and Nicholson contributed nine. Madelyn Berg picked up 19 digs.
Niagara is at Cambrian (5-11) Saturday.
