ANCASTER, ON - The Redeemer Royals women's basketball team delivered one of their most complete performances of the season on Wednesday night, earning a hard-fought 76–71 victory over the Niagara Knights in OCAA West Division action. The win marks Redeemer's third of the season and moves the Royals into a playoff position in the ultra-competitive West, where every game carries postseason implications.

From the opening tip, Redeemer showed a commitment to defensive pressure and disciplined rebounding, consistently disrupting the Niagara attack and refusing to allow the Knights to take control. Despite trailing after the first quarter, the Royals settled in and responded with a composed, resilient effort that kept the game within reach heading into halftime.

The turning point came in the second half, where Redeemer's defensive physicality and timely scoring shifted momentum decisively. The Royals outscored Niagara 46–38 over the final two quarters, closing the game on a 26–19 fourth-quarter surge to secure the win.

Leading the way was fifth-year guard Sydney Lazenby, who delivered a dominant performance with 25 points, 5 rebounds, and an impressive 5–7 from the free-throw line. Lazenby was the closer Redeemer needed, scoring key baskets down the stretch to secure the victory.

Sophia VanRaalte was outstanding, finishing with 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists while shooting 8–17 from the field and 1–2 from beyond the arc. Her inside-out versatility created matchup problems all night.

In the paint, Talia Vreugdenhil was dominant, recording a massive 14-rebound, 13-point double-double while adding 5 assists and 2 steals. Her presence on the glass anchored the Royals' defensive game plan and helped Redeemer win the rebounding battle.

First-year guard Ava VanHouwelingen added 8 points and 5 assists in a confident floor-general performance, while veteran forward Abigail Hoogland contributed 7 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists off the bench in one of her most complete games of the year.

Redeemer's depth also shined, with Daniella Zondag providing an efficient 4 points in just 7 minutes.

As a team, the Royals shared the ball beautifully, finishing with 24 assists—one of their highest totals of the season. Redeemer also dominated the offensive glass, pulling down 9 offensive rebounds and converting them into valuable second-chance points. The Royals' 40 points in the paint further highlighted their ability to attack Niagara's interior defense with purpose and confidence.

With the game tied multiple times in the final minutes, a late basket from VanRaalte helped seal the win and ensure Redeemer protected home court in a crucial standings matchup.

The victory places the Royals firmly inside the OCAA West playoff picture as the calendar turns toward February.

Redeemer returns to action on February 4 at Humber College, looking to build on tonight's momentum and continue climbing the standings.