WELLAND, ON. On Wednesday, February 5, the Redeemer Royals battled hard but came up short against the Niagara Knights at Niagara College, falling 67-49 in a tough matchup. 

The game kicked off with a competitive first quarter, with both teams exchanging baskets and keeping it close. By the end of the first, Niagara held a slim 20-16 lead. But the Knights started to hit their stride in the second quarter, outscoring Redeemer 25-10 to take a commanding 45-26 lead into the break.

Redeemer fought back after halftime, looking to chip away at the deficit. However, Niagara responded quickly, pushing the lead to 55-37 by the end of the third. The Royals kept battling, but the Knights' defense and timely scoring kept them in control, and Niagara sealed the win with a 67-49 final score.

Three players hit double digits in scoring, with Talia Vreugdenhil leading the way with 10 points and a standout 11 rebounds for a double-double. Both Sydney Drain and Sydney Lazenby also chipped in with 10 points apiece, keeping the offense alive throughout the game.

The Royals' defense struggled to slow down Niagara's attack, but the effort from Vreugdenhil, Drain, and Lazenby gave the team something to build on as they move forward into the last match of the season.

Redeemer travels to Windsor, ON for their regular season finale on Saturday. The final game of the season against the St.Clair Saints carries crucial playoff implications. The two sides currently sit in 6th and 7th in the OCAA West. The winner of Saturday's contest will take hold of the 6th seed entering the playoffs. 

Tip-off for Saturday's game is set for 6:00 PM EST in Windsor, ON.