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<\/a>\u201cIt\u2019s a great experience for our guys to play in front of that many people,\u201d said Badgers men\u2019s coach Madhav Trivedi.<\/p>\nBrock President Gervan Fearon welcomed a number of recipients of this year\u2019s Niagara Principal\u2019s Scholarship, which has seen Brock award nearly $600,000 to exceptional Niagara high school students since its inception in 2015.<\/p>\n
Also in attendance was Chancellor Shirley Cheechoo and a number of students from her Weengushk Film Institute on Manitoulin Island. During the game, Brock Vice-President Administration Brian Hutchings presented a donation of more than $1,000 to the Brock University Students\u2019 Union Food First Program as a result of student ticket sales to Saturday\u2019s game.<\/p>\n
In the women\u2019s game, Brock\u2019s Melissa Tatti led all scorers with 22 points, but it wasn\u2019t enough to knock off the talented Rams. Ryerson led 18-15 after a close first quarter, but opened the gap to 40-25 at the half and never looked back.<\/p>\n
Sofia Croce added 10 points and Courtney McPherson scooped up eight rebounds before exiting the game with an eye injury.<\/p>\n
“You can\u2019t replicate the game conditions and atmosphere this event provides. It\u2019s great experience for our players,” said women’s head coach Mike Rao. “We are very fortunate to have this opportunity. I love our effort and fight.\u201d<\/p>\n
On the men\u2019s side, Brock led 27-11 after the first quarter and 38-22 at halftime, but the Rams posted 49 points in the second half, including outscoring the badgers 26-10 in the fourth quarter to complete the comeback win. The Badgers outrebounded the Rams 42-34.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we need to learn from this game is that even when you\u2019re up big in this league anybody can come back,\u201d said Trivedi. \u201cYou\u2019ve got to continue to chip away and take care of your floor.\u201d<\/p>\n
Johneil Simpson led the Badgers with 19 points and seven defensive rebounds. Cassidy Ryan, Tyler Brown and Kascius Small-Martin each scored 10 points. Brown dished out seven assists and Ryan added seven rebounds. Daniel Cayer collected 10 rebounds. For Ryerson, JV Mukama led the way with 21 points. The Rams shot 41.7 per cent from the field, and Brock hit 38.5 per cent of their shots.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was very happy with our guys\u2019 effort tonight,\u201d said Trivedi. \u201cWe hit some statistical goals that we wanted to reach.<\/p>\n
\u201cGive a lot of credit to Ryerson. They are a championship-level team and they showed it tonight where they stayed poised and chipped away at the lead. That\u2019s one of the best teams in the country and we are right there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t