Ancaster, ON - The Redeemer Royals Women's Basketball team concluded their regular season Saturday afternoon inside the Redeemer Athletic Centre, falling 76-62 to the St. Clair Saints in their final contest before postseason play.
With the result, the Royals finish the regular season as the OCAA East #8 seed and will travel next Saturday to Belleville, Ontario, to face the East Division's top-ranked Loyalist College, which enters the playoffs undefeated at 14-0.

How It Happened
St. Clair established momentum early, building a 20-11 lead after the first quarter. The Saints extended their advantage in the second frame, taking a 42-29 lead into halftime.
Redeemer continued to battle throughout the third quarter but faced a significant deficit heading into the final ten minutes. Despite trailing by 23 points entering the fourth quarter, the Royals responded with renewed energy and an improved offensive rhythm.
Redeemer outscored St. Clair 24-15 in the final quarter, showing resilience and competitive character down the stretch. While the comeback effort fell short, the strong finish provides encouraging momentum heading into playoff competition.

Royals Leaders
Sydney Lazenby led the Royals offensively with 25 points, knocking down four three-pointers and going 9-of-15 from the free-throw line. She added two rebounds and two steals in a determined performance.
Sophia VanRaalte delivered a double-double effort with 9 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, anchoring Redeemer on the glass. Talia Vreugdenhil added 10 points and 12 rebounds, contributing significantly to the Royals' 44 total boards on the afternoon. Off the bench, Ava Frose provided a spark with 8 points on 4-of-7 shooting, while Zoe Dejonge and Abigail Hoogland added key minutes and defensive contributions.
As a team, Redeemer forced 15 steals and competed strongly on the boards, finishing with a 44-30 rebounding advantage. However, St. Clair capitalized at the free-throw line (23-for-30) and used that momentum to secure the win.

Royals Stat of the Game
Redeemer dominated the glass, out rebounding St. Clair 44-30, including 18 offensive rebounds. The Royals also recorded 10 steals and held the Saints to just 29.4% shooting from the field in the final quarter.

Looking Ahead
The Royals now turn their focus to postseason play as they prepare for a trip to Belleville next Saturday to face #1 Loyalist College who finished the regular season a perfect 14–0. The opening-round match up in the OCAA Tournament presents a significant challenge for the Royals. However, it is one the ladies will be ready for, coming off a strong mid-season exhibition against the Lancers that provided valuable experience and confidence heading into playoff competition.

With postseason intensity now front and center, the Royals will look to embrace the opportunity and rise to the moment on the road next Saturday. Tip-off information will be announced later this week.