Banner Season: Keltos' 42-point performance buoys Brock's second ever Critelli Cup title

Toronto (via Brock Badgers / Ryerson Rams) - The Brock Badgers women's basketball team is headed to the U SPORTS Final 8 tournament as provincial champions after winning the Critelli Cup OUA championship in Toronto on Saturday night.

After splitting their regular season series, this championship game was truly in the air. After a strong first quarter, the Rams offence couldn't keep up with the Badgers who just could not miss. In heartbreaking fashion the Rams would fall 84-71, as the No. 6 nationally-ranked Badgers upset the No. 2 Ryerson Rams to win their first ever Critelli Cup, which is named after Brock's former women's basketball coach and longtime Assistant Athletic Director.

"Words can't describe it. I'm so overjoyed and happy for the team," said Critelli. "I'm so proud that Brock has won the Critelli Cup. It's so special to have a trophy named after you and then give it to a school you put your heart and soul into for 36 years. It's pretty cool."

It's Brock's first OUA title since 1983.

"I want these girls to enjoy the moment," said head coach Mike Rao. "Our pre-game speech was very simple I said 'listen, don't let this game determine who you are. We're going to do the same thing that we always do. Let's just play.'"

The Badgers led 44-38 at halftime and would never relinquished the lead.

In a do or die fourth quarter, it was clear the Badgers were the much better team. The Badgers started off with a three and just continued to increase their lead. By the five-minute mark the Badgers led by 15 and the game was in control. The Rams would only score 12 points in the quarter including two back-to-back threes by Robertson in the dying seconds. The Badgers, who just could not be stopped, won the Critelli Cup in enemy territory with a score of 84-71.

"Honestly, I'm speechless, I feel like I'm dreaming," said star point guard Melissa Tatti. "Every game is a dream. The comeback, then the comeback again, and now this. We wanted it so badly. It's a dream come true."

Samantha Keltos led all scorers with a career-high 42 points. She went eight-for-nine from beyond the arc.

Not surprisingly, the OUA named her the game's MVP.

"I have no words. I am so incredibly proud of this team," said Keltos, who also collected 12 rebounds for a double-double. "Nobody believed in us. We proved people wrong. During the game I was locked in. My teammates said my face was like a zombie, because I was just zoned in.

Tatti finished with 19 points and four assists while Sofia Croce and Jessica Morris chipped in eight and seven points, respectively.

"It was special to sit next to Critelli while watching this game, knowing we haven't won since 1983 and that the Cup is named after her. She's had an impact on everyone on this team," said Brock Sports Associate Athletic Director Emily Allan. "This team has been known recently as the Comeback Queens, but not this time. They had control of the game the entire time.

"I also want to thank the Brock Badgers fans who made it feel like a home game in the Mattamy Centre. It was an electric atmosphere and you could tell the team was feeding off that," Allan said. 

"Brock's a great team," said Ryerson Rams head coach Carly Clarke. "It's a conference final, you know you're going to get a great matchup. It was a battle both ways. We made some shots early, but we also had some defensive breakdowns, that they were able to gain some confidence on and build off of."

Both Brock and Ryerson now head to the 2020 U SPORTS Women's Basketball Championship in Ottawa starting Thursday. Seeding for the tournament will be announced shortly to determine the draw.