MICHAEL THOMAS
SPORTS REPORTER

BARRIE – The Seneca Sting sent the Hawks women’s basketball team home early from the provincial championships after a heartbreaking defeat.

The Sting took a one-point lead with 2.1 seconds left in the quarter-final game and despite scratching and clawing in the final seconds, as they had all game, the Hawks came up short.

Humber guard Maria Suriani tossed up a shot from half court before the final buzzer sounded, only to see the shot fall short and the game end 50-49 in favour of the Sting.

Although the crowd was won over by Humber’s resilient play, head coach Denise Perrier noted missed chances in the teams first game of the playoffs.

“We had opportunities to win it and we didn’t capitalize,” said Perrier. “We competed at times but we didn’t shoot well and we had lots of careless turnovers.”

Humber hit only 28 per cent of its shots and committed 21 turnovers.

While coaches and players were shaken by the loss and disappointed with the way they played, Seneca head coach Craig Walker praised the pressure of the Hawks game plan and style of play.

“We expected lots of pressure from the Humber guards and lots of shooting from their guards,” said Walker.

“There were just a couple plays we made down the stretch that were the difference.”

The Hawks finished the regular season 11-3. This was the second straight year  the squad  was eliminated in the quarter-finals at the hands of the Seneca Sting.

Humber last won the OCAA championship in 2005. Humber looks to have a veteran team next season, with all players expected to return, including guards Rebecca Dietrich and Kayla Suriani, who were named to the western conference all-rookie team.