LENNOXVILLE QUE., --
Sirah Diarra of Longueuil, Que., registered a "double-double" as the McGill University women's basketball team completed a four-game season sweep over Bishop's, defeating the Gaiters 53-44 in RSEQ regular season play, Saturday, to spoil "Bell Let's Talk" night at the Mitchell Gym.
It marked McGill's four-game season sweep over the Gaiters and their seventh consecutive win over BU since a 52-40 loss on this date a year ago. the last time the Martlets posted a four-game sweep in one season was in 2015-16, also against the Gaiters.
The Martlets led 13-7 after the opening quarter and took a healthy 24-12 lead into halftime. However, the Gaiters clawed back to win both the third (17-16) and fourth (15-13) quarters, respectively.
Diarra, a 6-foot-1 centre, registered game-highs of 14 points and 17 rebounds. The first-year social work major shot 7-for-9 from the field, contributed one blocked shot and added a steal in only 24 minutes of play before fouling out in the final minute. An NCAA transfer who played three seasons at Clemson University, Diarra currently leads the nation in rebounding with a lofty 13.7 average per game.
McGill amassed a stunning 51-34 margin in rebounds, adding to their previous single-game totals of 49, 55 and 51 rebounds in their four confrontations with the Gaiters.
"That's our clear advantage inside, so we've got to work on getting quality shots," said Martlets head coach
Ryan Thorne. "Today was a little tougher to get those as Diarra was in foul trouble early on, so she had to sit for long periods and when that happens, we lose our height advantage with their big."
"
Sirah Diarra was a difference maker tonight," said Gaiters' bench boss
Craig Norman, who previously coached the McGill Redmen from 2004 to 2010. "We don't have the size to compete down low. That being said I was proud of our effort tonight, I think we played tremendous. We had an opportunity in the second half to make a run but were not able to capitalize. The game was much closer than the score indicated. We just didn't shoot the ball. We just have to take our lumps right now, we are still transitioning. I'm optimistic going forward."
Gladys Hakizimana, a 5-foot-7 guard from Montreal, scored 12 points, on 3-for-10 shooting from the floor, including 2-for-6 from three-point range. The social work senior was a perfect 4-for-4 from the free-throw line. Teammate
Charlotte Clayton, a sophomore from Newmarket, Ont., added 11 points, going 3-for-6 from downtown. Freshman
Shayann Laguerre of Laval, Que., came off the bench to contribute eight points and five rebounds in 16 minutes of court time.
Maude Archambault and
Amaiquen Siciliano led the Gaiters with 11 and 10 points, respectively..
McGill connected on 36.4 per cent of their attempts from the field (20/55), went 6-for-25 from the arc and drained seven of eight attempts at the charity stripe. Bishop's, which shot 25.4 per cent (16/63), drained two of 19 treys and made 10 of 16 from the line.
Both teams are scheduled to play undefeated Laval (9-0) next. McGill (6-3) will host the Rouge et Or in their own edition of "Bell Let's Talk Soiree", on Thursday, Jan. 31 in a 6 p.m. tip-off at Love Competition Hall. Bishop's (2-10) enters a bye week and will play Laval on Feb, 8.
2018-19 RSEQ Women's Basketball Standings
| 1 |
Laval |
9 |
9 |
0 |
672 |
486 |
1.000 |
0.0 |
18 |
| 2 |
Concordia |
11 |
7 |
4 |
711 |
669 |
0.636 |
3.0 |
14 |
| 3 |
McGill |
9 |
6 |
3 |
518 |
501 |
0.667 |
3.0 |
12 |
| 4 |
Bishop's |
12 |
2 |
10 |
666 |
816 |
0.167 |
8.5 |
4 |
| 5 |
UQAM |
9 |
1 |
8 |
557 |
652 |
0.111 |
8.0 |
2 |
