Box Score
MONTREAL -- Rookie Jennifer Silver of Montreal came off the bench to score a team-high 15 points as No.8-ranked McGill defeated Laval 72-51 in women's university basketball at Love Competition Hall, Thursday.

The result gave McGill a four-game series sweep over thier provincial rivals for the second straight season and extended their head-to-head win streak to 12 consecutive meetings since a 74-68 Laval road victory on Nov. 12, 2011.

The Martlets improved their division-leading record to 11-2 in the Quebec conference and need two wins in their final three contests to clinch the RSEQ regular-season pennant for the second straight year. They can also clinch with only one win if they defeat second-place Concordia (9-4) by more than two points in the final game of the campaign
 
"That was the best game we played all season," said head coach Ryan Thorne, whose troops appear to be getting hot at the right time of year now that now that the team's health has returned to a manageable level. "In previous games we were too stagnant and needed more movement in our game. We used a lot of misdirection tonight and I think that worked to our advantage."
 
Silver, a 5-foot-11 forward, finished well around the rim, going 6-for-10 from the floor and 3-for-4 from the foul line. The pre-med freshman also added seven rebounds, two blocks, one steal and an assist.
 
McGill had the offence firing on all cylinders, jumping into a 23-14 lead after the opening frame and maintaining a 33-25 advantage at halftime. After the break, however, McGill put their foot on the gas, outscoring Laval 22-13 in the third stanza and 17-13 in the fourth.
 
Three other Martlets joined Silver in double figures in what was a balanced offensive attack for McGill.

"We've got people that can score all over," said Thorne.  "We tried to put people in good situations and told them to be more aggressive and offensive-minded."
 
Mariam Sylla, a native of Guinea, was one of these beneficiaries as she was given the ball in a face-up position rather than her normal back-to-basket routine. Her athleticism enabled the 6-foot-1 centre to drive to the hoop and lay in five field goals and drain three fouls shots to finish with 13 points. She also collected eight rebounds, a pair of steals, one block and an assist.
 
Teammates Helene Bibeau and Dianna Ros dropped 10 points apiece. Ros, a third-year guard from Montreal, was 4-for-9 from the field including a 2-for-4 performance from beyond the arc. Bibeau, a fifth-year senior from St. Bruno, Que., also drained two three-pointers, making 4-of-8 attempts from the floor.
 
Also contributing for the Martlets was co-captain Francoise Charest of Quebec City and Carolann Cloutier, a first-year transfer from UMass. Charest had nine points, two assists, a pair of rebounds and a steal. Cloutier impressed with her guard play dishing out a half-dozen assists, while scoring six of her own.
 
Genevieve Derome led the way for Laval with 17 points, four rebounds and four steals. Marie-Pascale Nadeau was the only other member of the Rouge et Or to reach double digits with 12 points.

McGill shot 42.6 per cent from the field (29/68), went 7-for-19 from three-point range and sank seven of eight from the foul-line (87.5%). Laval shot a lowly 28.4 per cent from the floor (19/67), went 3-for-13 from beyond the arc and made only 10 of 18 free-throws.
 
Laval, which dropped to 4-9, will finish fourth in the five-team league and faces a probable first-round playoff meeting with McGill when the post-season begins in two weeks. They return home and will host second-place Concordia (9-4) in Quebec City on Saturday. McGill travels to Lennoxville for a Saturday matchup against last-place Bishop's (0-12). Tip-off is slated for 6.p.m. and the game will be streamed live on Gaiters TV.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ryne Bondy and Earl Zukerman
McGill Sports Info Office
514-398-7012