QUEBEC CITY -- Montrealer
Gladys Hakizimana hit a buzzer-beating jump shot to force a second overtime and
Alex Kiss-Rusk of Beaconsfield, Que., recorded a "double-double", including the winning basket as McGill upset No.1-ranked Laval 79-76 to close the regular season of RSEQ women's basketball, Thursday, at Centre PEPS.
It was only the second setback of the season for the division-leading Rouge et Or (13-2) and both have been against McGill, which split the four-game season series. The result also secured second place in the standings for the Martlets (9-7), who now await the results of Saturday's games (Feb. 25) to learn whether they will face Concordia (7-8) or UQAM (7-8) in the RSEQ Final Four semifinal next week.
The Martlets had a 14-12 edge after the first quarter and carried a 32-25 lead into halftime. They held what appeared to be a safe 49-40 margin after three but the hosts put up a strong 18-9 showing in the fourth quarter to force overtime. Both teams managed 12 points in the first extra frame before McGill settled the showdown 9-6 in the second OT period. Five different Martlets reached double-figures in scoring.
McGill had a 46-44 rebounding edge and a 6-3 advantage in blocked shots. The hosts held an 11-3 margin in steals and turned the ball over 13 times compared to 24 by their guests.
Kiss-Rusk, a 6-foot-4 centre, earned 20 points and pulled down 14 rebounds, including a dozen in the defensive zone. It was her 11th double-double in 28 games overall this season. The psychology senior shot 9-for-16 from the field and 2-for-4 on her free-throw attempts, to go along with four assists and blocked three shots. She netted two jump shots in the dying minutes of the second extra session to secure the three-point margin of victory.
Marika Guerin of Sorel, Que., whose free throw with 16 seconds left in regulation time forced the first overtime, followed with 17 points. She shot 5-for-8 from the field, including 4-for-7 from beyond the arc, and was 3-for-4 from the charity stripe. The veteran guard also grabbed five rebounds and had an assist.
Geraldine Cabillo-Abante of St. Laurent, Que., tallied 16 points and collected five rebounds. The 5-foot-5 guard shot 6-for-14 from the field, including 2-for-6 from three-point range, and sank both her free-throws. She also had three assists.
Jennifer Silver of Montreal, in her second game back after missing five contests with a broken hand, scored 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds. She was 5-for-9 from the field, 4-for-7 from the line and collected three blocks with an assist.
Hakizimana rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points. The 5-foot-7 guard shot 6-for-8 from the stripe, corralled a pair of rebounds, had four assists and stole one ball.
Jane Gagné led the Rouge et Or with a double-double of her own, scoring a game-high 24 points and collecting 10 rebounds in a losing cause.
The Martlets shot 39.7 per cent from the field (27/68), including 28.6 from downtown (6/21), and were 19-for-27 on free throws (70.4). Laval connected on 28 of a whopping 87 attempts from the field (32.2), including 22.2 on treys (6/27), and was 14-for-21 from the stripe (66.7).
The Rouge et Or (13-2) will close out their schedule when they visit Concordia (7-8) on Saturday (Feb. 25).
McGill will now turn their focus on the RSEQ Final Four tournament, which will take place March 2-4 at Centre Pierre-Charbonneau, located just beside Olympic Stadium.
| 2016-17 RSEQ Women's Basketball Standings (updated after Thursday) • Classement de la saison régulière |
|
|
| 1 |
Laval |
15 |
13 |
2 |
1069 |
876 |
0.867 |
0.0 |
26 |
| 2 |
McGill |
16 |
9 |
7 |
951 |
950 |
0.563 |
4.5 |
18 |
| 3 |
Concordia |
15 |
7 |
8 |
950 |
1000 |
0.467 |
6.0 |
14 |
| 4 |
UQAM |
15 |
7 |
8 |
913 |
940 |
0.467 |
6.0 |
14 |
| 5 |
Bishop's |
15 |
2 |
13 |
841 |
958 |
0.133 |
11.0 |
4 |
