MONTREAL -- Melodie Daoust, a senior from Valleyfield, Que. continued a torrid pace, scoring twice, including the game-winner and adding a helper as McGill rallied for 3-2 victory over division-leading Ottawa in a key RSEQ women's hockey contest played at McConnell Arena, Sunday.

It was the fourth straight conquest for the streaking Martlets, including a non-conference decision over RPI last week. McGill, which improved to 6-3-0 in the Quebec league, narrowed the gap to just two points behind the first-place Gee-Gees (7-4), with two games in hand.

The penalty-filled affair featured 32 minutes in the sin-bin and 16 power-play scenarios. McGill, which had a 41-32 edge in shots, finally had a productive day on the power-play, scoring three times on seven chances after starting the season with a dismal 1-for-30 performance with the man-advantage. The Martlets erased eight of nine shorthanded situations.

Daoust set up defenceman Brittney Fouracres to tie the game at 19:50 of the opening period, then scored a power-play goal to give McGill a 2-1 lead midway through the second. She later snapped a 2-2 draw with the winning tally at 10:14 of the third.

For Daoust, her three-point effort marked her seventh multi-point performance in nine league games, The team captain now leads the league scoring race with 14 points, including six goals. She is ranked ninth in the CIS national scoring race but is first in points per game.

Marimee Godbout-Parent had given the Gee-Gees a 1-0 lead in the first stanza and Laura Turcotte tied the game at 2-2 in the second.

Martlets goaltender Taylor Hough kicked aside 30 of 32 shots for the victory, improving to 5-2 on the season. Ottawa 'keeper Maude Levesque-Ryan registered 38 saves on 41 shots in a losing cause as her record dropped to 5-3.

McGill now has a five-week layoff for the December exam break before resuming regular-season play, after the new year when they host Concordia (Jan. 8) and Montreal (Jan. 10). However, they will get in a pair of exhibition games over the holidays, with games at Toronto (8-4) and York (5-7), Jan. 3-4, respectively.

MARTLET MURMURS: McGill ranks first in the CIS with a stingy 1.11 goals-against average and fourth in save percentage (.952) but only 20th in offence, averaging 2.00 goals per game... The Martlets are 21st among CIS teams in PP percentage (10.8) but stand fourth in the nation with a sparkling PK success rate of 92.5 per cent... They are ranked second in shorthanded goals with three.


SCORING SUMMARY
Ottawa 2 at McGill 3
(Sunday, November 29, 2015 - McConnell Arena (@ McGill)

GOALS BY PERIOD
Ottawa 1-1-0 -- 2
McGill 1-1-1 -- 3

1st Period-
1, Ottawa, Marimee Godbout-Parent 1 (Upshall), 16:55 (PP).
2, McGill, Brittney Fouracres 2 (Daoust), 19:50 (PP).

Penalties-Bouchard Ott (tripping), 6:56; Cagianos Mcg (tripping), 16:00; Laurin Ott (slashing), 18:45; Bouchard Ott (cross checking), 19:50.

2nd Period-
3, McGill, Melodie Daoust 5 (Moffatt, Sutter), 9:29 (PP).
4, Ottawa, Laura Turcotte 1 (Laurin), 13:19.

Penalties-Lavoie Mcg (roughing), 1:26; Rioux Ott (holding), 7:45; Chown Ott (check to the head), 8:32; Pohlod Mcg (interference), 13:30; Daoust Mcg (cross checking), 14:13; Davidson Mcg (tripping), 16:26; Davies Mcg (check to the head), 16:55; Moffatt Mcg (bodychecking), 19:45.

3rd Period-
5, McGill, Melodie Daoust 6 (Cagianos, Sutter), 10:14 (PP).

Penalties-Burt Ott (interference), 9:32; Whissell Ott (roughing), 12:26; Davidson Mcg (interference on goaltender), 15:10; Daoust Mcg (cross checking), 19:16.

Shots on Goal-
Ottawa 4-20-8 -- 32.
McGill 17-11-13 -- 41.

Power Play Opportunities-
Ottawa 1 / 9;
McGill 3 / 7.

Goalies-
Ottawa, Maude Levesque-Ryan (L, 5-3-0, 41 shots-38 saves; 58:48).
McGill, Taylor Hough (W, 5-2-0, 32 shots-30 saves; 60:00).

Attendance: 101
Start: 3:06 PM
End: 5:09 PM
Length: 2:03

Referees-Justine Pelletier.
Linesmen-Laurie Longpre, Vanessa Emond.

THREE STARS
1. MCG - 32 Taylor Hough
2. OTT - 31 Maude Levesque-Ryan
3. MCG - 17 Melodie Daoust



FOR MORE INFO CONTACT:
Ryne Bondy or Earl Zukerman
McGill Sports Info Office
514-398-7012