MONTREAL -- Forward  Alex Kiss-Rusk of Beaconsfield, Que., was a double-trophy winner when the national champion McGill University women's basketball team held their annual awards gala on March 24, at the Evo Montreal, a student residence on Sherbrooke Street, near University's downtown campus.

Kiss-Rusk was named as both, the most valuable player and most outstanding defensive player. It marked her second straight team MVP award.

Among other honours dished out by Martlets bench boss Ryan Thorne, was the Gerardo Rojas Him Memorial Award, which went to co-captain and Montrealer Jennifer Silver for the second consecutive year, for courage, dedication and commitment to the program through adversity. The most improved player award was bestowed upon Marika Guerin, a third-year kinesiology major from Sorel, Que., and the rookie-of-the-year trophy was presented to Ruth Tshikudi-Tshila, a physical education freshman from Montreal. Geraldine Cabillo-Abante, better known as "GG", took home the Martlet Leadership Award, presented to the player who best exemplifies the characteristics and qualities of being a member of the Martlets.

Thorne also introduced his recruiting class from the Quebec CEGEP ranks, a group that included Kiana Scantlebury and Van Leap Sry, who led Dawson College to a silver medal at the CCAA national championship, plus Frederique Beauchamp of Quebec league champion College Montmorency and Maggy Chabot of College Ste. Foy.

Kiss-Rusk, a 6-foot-4 centre, was an RSEQ all-conference selection for the second straight season and earned the league's defensive player of  the year award. She was named national championship tournament MVP after meriting player-of-the-game honours in all three games at Nationals. The psychology senior started in all 33 games, averaging 31.5 minutes 14.6 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. She registered a team-leading 14 "double-doubles", to go along with 79 blocked shots, 76 assists and 24 steals. Kiss-Rusk shot 48.7 from the field (109/409) and 72.8 from the free-throw line (83/114).

Silver, a fourth-year medical student, had to juggle an extremely challenging academic schedule that required her to miss some workouts and team practices. Then in early January, the 5-foot-11 forward suffered a broken hand, which caused her to miss nine games. Nonetheless, she returned just before playoffs and played a key role to help McGill win both the Quebec championship and the first national title in program history. In 23 games overall, she averaged 26.5 minutes, 10.1 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, shooting 49.2 per cent from the field and 70.1 from the foul-line.

Guerin, a 5-foot-4 point-guard, started in 22 of her 26 games overall. She averaged 28.1 minutes and 7.7 points per game, shooting 32.4 per cent from the field, 39.2 from three-point range and 82.3 from the line. Her single-game scoring high was 19 points, with five treys, in a 90-62 win against Concordia on Jan. 21.

Tshikudi-Tshila, a six-foot forward, dressed in 30 of the team's 33 games overall. She averaged 12.3 minutes and 2.6 points per game, shooting 32.4 per cent from the field, 39.2 from three-point range and 82.3 from the line. Her collegiate debut was in an 80-56 victory during the preseason opener against the NCAA's Seton Hall on Aug. 9, where she started, played 36 minutes and tallied 10 points. Her season-best outing was a 14-point, eight rebound effort in a non-conference affair in a 7-70 overtime loss to Toronto on Oct. 14.

Cabillo-Abante, a physical education sophomore from St. Laurent, Que., suited up for all 33 games, averaging 25.8 minutes and 4.5 points per game. She shot 33.6 per cent from the field, 27.1 from downtown and 66.7 from the line. He season-best outing was a 16-point, five-rebound performance in a 79-76 double overtime victory at Laval on Feb. 23, where she saw 46 minutes of court-time.

The evening was capped off by an emotional tribute to the graduating seniors, Silver and Guerin, although both still have college eligibility remaining.

The Martlets, who used the mantra "Together we rise", posted a 25-9 record overall, including wins in their last seven games. They became the first Quebec-based team in 33 years to capture the Bronze Baby Trophy as national champions.

SOURCE:

Earl Zukerman
Sports Info Office
McGill University
514-398-7012