Windsor native Noor Bazzi didn't start the game but she had a big hand in eliminating her former team from the playoffs. The Massey grad assisted on the game winning bucket as Kaley DeMont drained the game winning three-pointer with 9.6 seconds left as Brock beat Windsor 61-58.
Bazzi, who won a provincial silver medal at St. Clair College in 2020 before joining the Lancers for the 2021-2022 season, scored 12 points off the bench. "It feels surreal." Bazzi said following the game. She didn't get to suit up as a Lancer in the new Toldo Lancer Recreation Complex but she was happy to play there in front of family and friends. "My support system. My everything. They mean the world to me. Can't do it without them."
The Lancer fought back from a nine-point first half deficit to take a 47-46 lead early in the fourth. From there it was back and forth. With the game tied at 58 Bazzi rolled out of the corner on a give and go with DeMont who had an open look on the game winner.
Windsor had a play drawn up during their final timeout but couldn't get off a shot as Brock advanced to the quarterfinals against Queens Saturday night. "We had a chance. We didn't execute our play." said Lancers head coach Chantal Vallee. "It's experience. It's a mistake on a switch here but it's not how we lost the game. It's the whole game."
The Lancers finished with a 12-10 regular season with is a six win improvement over 2021 which has Vallee looking at the bigger picture. "Long term we're doing the right thing. We're in the right spot. We're building the team. It hurts but overall with the program, honestly, it's a great season. It just really sucks to finish it this way."