MONTREAL --
Caroline Task scored 18 points as Concordia stunned fourth-ranked McGill 67-62 in RSEQ women's basketball at the John Dore court in the Concordia gymnasium on Saturday.
The Stingers halted their eight-game losing streak, while putting an end to a four-game Martlets win streak in head-to-head meetings as they improved their lifetime record to 62-64 over McGill since 1981.
Concordia led 14-11 after the first quarter, 34-19 at halftime and 53-37 after three. McGill battled back from a 17-point deficit and reduced the gap all the way down to three in the final six seconds but turned over the ball when
Marie-Love Michel lost track of time and was was forced to turn it over on a shot-clock violation. The ensuing turnover resulted in a Concordia field-goal that sealed the deal.
"We had a poor second quarter and they were the hungrier team today," said McGill head coach
Ryan Thorne. "We lacked (playing with) urgency. One of the things that we're dealing with right now is the success of (winning a national championship) last year and how it came about. We didn't have a great overall season (due to injuries) and turned it around in the playoffs. So, I think that we don't sense that urgency right now. We're not as strong a team as we were last year. We were in that position then based on injuries, not based on lack of effort. This year, it's more a lack of effort, urgency and desire."
Task shot 7-for-20 from the field, including 3-for-9 from beyond the arc, and was 1-for-2 on free throws. She also pulled down two rebounds, had four assists and stole one ball.
Alex Kiss-Rusk of Beaconsfield, Que., led the Martlets with a game-high 20 points and 10 rebounds to record her 10th "double-double" of the season. The 6-foot-4 centre shot 10-for-15 from the field.
Marie-Love Michel of Montreal also registered a double-double, with 11 points and 10 rebounds. The 5-foot-9 winger shot 5-for-13 from the field, drained one of two free-throws and had three assists.
Gladys Hakizimana, a 5-foot-7 guard from Montreal, tallied 14 points. The social work junior was a sparkling 9-for-10 from the charity stripe.
McGill had a 41-27 rebounding difference while the Stingers held a 6-4 edge in steals, a 1-0 margin in blocks, and a favourable 17-9 advantage in turnovers.
Concordia shot 42.4 per cent from the field (28/66), 36.4 from downtown (8/22), and was 3-for-6 on free-throws. The Martlets shot 35.9 per cent from the field (23/64), 21.4 from beyond the arc (3/14) and 81.3 from the line (13/16).
McGill, which sits atop the division with a 9-4 record, will host third-place Bishop's (6-6) on Saturday, Feb. 17 in a 4 p.m. start at Love Competition Hall. With three games left to play, the Stingers (4-9) visit UQAM (4-9) on Feb. 15 in a battle for the fourth and final playoff spot.
2017-18 RSEQ WOMEN'S BASKETBALL STANDINGS (16-game schedule)
| 1 |
McGill |
13 |
9 |
4 |
823 |
733 |
0.692 |
0.0 |
18 |
| 2 |
Laval |
11 |
8 |
3 |
672 |
614 |
0.727 |
0.0 |
16 |
| 3 |
Bishop's |
12 |
6 |
6 |
765 |
777 |
0.500 |
2.5 |
12 |
| 4 |
UQAM |
13 |
4 |
9 |
784 |
820 |
0.308 |
5.0 |
8 |
| 5 |
Concordia |
13 |
4 |
9 |
792 |
892 |
0.308 |
5.0 |
8 |
