FREDERICTON – Alex Kiss-Rusk posted her ninth "double-double" of the season but it was all in vain as a depleted McGill lineup lacked offensive punch and suffered a 56-43 setback to third-seeded Saint Mary's in the bronze medal game at the ArcelorMittal Dofasco CIS women's basketball championship, Sunday, at the Richard J. Currie Centre.
 
Missing the services of injured forward Mariam Sylla, a former All-Canadian and conference player of the year, McGill, the top-seeded team in the Final Eight tournament, produced their lowest offensive output against a CIS team since a 70-30 loss to Regina on Oct. 20, 2012.
 
Kiss-Rusk was selected as McGill's player of the game. She tallied 16 points and 11 rebounds, shooting 7-for-16 from the floor and 2-for-4 from the charity stripe.

"Disappointed, I think that's the one word that can sum it all up," said McGill head coach Ryan Thorne, who guided the RSEQ champion Martlets to a 25-9 record overall, including a 24-4 mark against CIS opponents and a 15-1 standing atop the Quebec conference.

"We didn't play well at all through this whole tournament and having our best player out really showed today. For a team that battled and worked so hard all season long, its unfortunate the outcome but you have to look across the board. Players and coaches, we all could have done better.
 
"You battle all year, for the chance to be here, and we didn't give our best today. We played the best teams in the country, and they took advantage of our gaps. It's not disappointing to play for bronze, it is disappointing to lose in the bronze game. Our university sent us here, and today is not how we should have played. I feel badly for the team and our five graduating players. We should have done better."
 
"When you have a veteran team and a good nucleus you sometimes let things slide," added Thorne, who merited CIS coach-of-the-year honours. "That's where I failed as a coach and could have had our girls better prepared."
 
McGill, which boasted the top-ranked defence in the country -- allowing an average of 50.7 points-per game -- did a good job holding the Huskies well below their 70.4 points-per game average. The struggle for the Martlets instead, came on the offensive side of the ball where they shot an ice-cold 32.1 per cent (18-for-56) from the field and 27.8 from long range (5-for-18), easily their most lethargic performance of the season. Saint Mary's countered with 32.8 per cent from the floor and 38.1 from three-point land.
 
Leading the way for SMU was fifth-year guard Rachelle Coward who scored 18 points and was named as the Huskies player of the game. The Dartmouth, N.S., native went 7-for-18 from the field, including a 4-for-7 performance from downtown. She added seven rebounds, one steal and a blocked shot.
 
The Huskies, who finished with a stellar 32-3 record overall, appeared that they could not miss to start the game, shooting a sizzling 64.3 per cent in the opening frame to jump out to a 24-14 lead. McGill gained momentum in the second quarter by buckling down on defence. They surrendered only eight points and cut the deficit to 32-29 at halftime, giving them hope for a better second half.
 
However, SMU responded right out of the break, going on a 9-0 run which helped extended their lead to 48-37 after three. The final quarter was ugly for both teams as they combined for only 14 total points.
 
The Huskies did a masterful job controlling the glass, out-rebounded McGill 38-30, including a 15-7 advantage under the offensive boards. The Martlets were also at a disadvantage in the turnover department, committing 19 to Saint Mary's 16.
 
Rounding out the scoring for McGill was Stephanie Blais (6 points), Gabriela Hebert (5), Marie-Love Michel (4), Jennifer Silver (4), Dianna Ros (3), Gladys Hakizimana (3) and Stephanie Guinois-Cote (2).
 
MARTLET MURMURS: The team is expecting to lose five seniors, including fifth-year veterans Dianna Ros (physical therapy) and Gabriela Hebert (industrial relations), both of whom were co-captains along with Mariam Sylla (pharmacology), who still has another year of eligibility. Also graduating is Stephanie Blais (international business) and not expected back is Jennifer Silver, a third-year medical student who has two years of eligibility left but will have a challenging academic schedule ahead...The Saskatchewan Huskies took home the gold medal and the Bronze Baby trophy with an 85-71 victory over Ryerson, before a crowd of 1,066 and national television audience... Fifth-year Huskie Dalyce Emmerson was named tournament MVP. Joining her on the CIS All-Tournament Team was Charlotte Kot (Regina), Silvana Jez (Ryerson), Keneca Pingue-Giles (Ryerson), Laura Dally (Saskatchewan) and Daylce Emmerson (Saskatchewan).

CHAMPIONSHIP WEBSITE: http://english.cis-sic.ca/championships/wbkb/index

LINK TO OFFICIAL BOXSCORE

STAT LEADERS

SMU 24-08-16-08 56
McG 14-15-08-06 43

Saint Mary's
Points: Rachelle Coward (18), Angelina Carvery (10), Laura Langille (9).
Rebounds: Kennisha-Shanice Luberisse (8), Lauran Langille (8), Shanieka Wood (8).
Assists: Kennisha-Shanice Luberisse (4)

Player of the game: Rachelle Coward

McGill
Points: Alex Kiss-Rusk (16)
Rebounds: Alex Kiss-Rusk (11), Gabriela Hebert (6)
Assists: Gabriela Hebert (5)

Player of the game: Alex Kiss-Rusk

SCHEDULE & RESULTS (all times ATLANTIC)

Thursday, March 17
Quarter-final 1: No. 2 Saskatchewan 73, No. 7 Ottawa 62
Quarter-final 2: No. 3 Saint Mary's 53, No. 6 Alberta 52
Quarter-final 3: No. 1 McGill 58, No. 8 UNB 52
Quarter-final 4: No. 5 Ryerson 73, No. 4 Regina 70

Friday, March 18
Consolation 1: Alberta 69, Ottawa 60
Consolation 2: Regina 68, UNB 56

Saturday, March 19
Semifinal 1: Saskatchewan 65, Saint Mary's 58
Semifinal 2: Ryerson 87, McGill 72
5th-place: Alberta 74, Regina 73

Sunday, March 20
Bronze: Saint Mary's 56, McGill 43
Gold: Saskatchewan 85, Ryerson 71