The Durham Lords women’s basketball team took care of business as they beat the Conestoga Condors 63-48 Saturday afternoon in a playoff game at Centennial College in Scarborough.
A scheduling conflict with Durham’s home gym didn’t allow the 13-3 Lords to host the 9-9 Condors in Oshawa.
With the win, the Lords qualify for the quarter-finals in the OCAA Women’s Basketball Championship tournament in Windsor for a chance to win their first gold medal since the 1996-1997 season.
The Lords struggled from the three-point line as they made just one of 21 attempts but overcame those struggles by pushing the pace.
Guard Andrea Zulich says the Lords were ready from the jump.
“We came out strong in the beginning and that took us off for the rest of the game. It was a well-fought, easy team win,” says Zulich, who turned in a six rebound, three point effort.
She says the Lords used the exhibition loss to get the team going.
“We went into the game thinking in a positive way and we used the exhibition game as motivation,” says Zulich.
She says this was a crucial game for her and the Lords as they didn’t want the season to end.
“This was a huge game for us as this could’ve been our last so we are super excited about keeping the season alive,” says Zulich.
Durham forward Kendra Oliver finished the game with a game high 23 points and 19 rebounds. Sierra Oliver added 17 points for the Lords, while Katiesha Brissett finished with eight.
Kendra Oliver says this was a good revenge game for her as she fouled out last time the Lords played the Condors in an exhibition game.
“I feel like I did well considering I didn’t foul out this time around and I got to my spots,” says Oliver.
She says Durham had to overcome Conestoga’s size advantage.
“They were taller and bigger than us and that made it a lot harder for us but we got it done,” says Oliver.
She says the Lords need to stick together as a team in order to have success.
“Looking ahead to the next game, we need to make sure we play as a whole team so we have the best chances to win,” says Oliver.
The Lords will face the 17-1 Fanshawe Falcons from London on Friday, March 6 at 3 p.m. in Windsor.
