MONTREAL -- Freshman point-guard Iman Ibrahim scored a team-high 16 points as the McGill women's basketball team fell 67-54 to Windsor in their preseason opener at Love Competition Hall, Sunday.
 
It marked the first time in nearly 20 months that the Martlets had played. They featured a very young lineup, with 13 members of the roster in either their first or second year of eligibility. 
 
It was also Rikki Bowles first game as head coach of the McGill program after having spent a combined 13 seasons as a player and assistant coach prior to her appointment last May.  
 
Ibrahim, a native Montrealer, looked to assert herself early and often, pushing the pace and attacking the rim with abandon. The former Dawson College star added six rebounds and did a nice job finding teammates off the dribble, tallying three assists and creating many good looks. 
 
"My first look is always going to be getting out in transition," said Ibrahim. "I'm a quick girl and can get in the paint, where I can look to kick it out, get us open looks. We are a very young group with girls from all across the country, so consistent effort and locking in defensively is going to be key for us. It's up to the point-guard to take on a leadership role, so that's what I'm looking to do with our group." 
 
Centre Amelie Rochon, a third-year medical student from Levis, Que., who figures to take on a much larger role with the Martlets this year, was solid down low. She finished with five points -- and more importantly -- four offensive rebounds, consistently creating second chances the home side. 
 
"It was very exciting to get back on the court after a long layoff, there are definitely some nerves but the hunger is there," said Rochon, speaking about her added leadership role in just her second season with the team. "I'm looking forward to it – it's a lot of responsibility, but I'm very grateful for a chance to show all of the hard work I've been putting in on and off the court. We're very lucky this year to have great energy with our team, now it's about the leaders showing the principles and values that we want to have as a program. It's a challenge that I believe we are ready to meet." 
 
The Martlets played a deep rotation, with nine in their 10-player lineup seeing a minimum of 13 minutes of court time.  Freshman two-guard Emma-Jane Scotten of Ottawa had a solid performance, scoring 15 points and adding five boards. 
 
"It feels good to have that first game under my belt, we got to see where we are at against another U SPORTS team, another young program," said Bowles, who was particularly impressed with Ibrahim and Scotten. "We had some real bright spots, Iman and Emma-Jane, they're used to playing heavy minutes and did really well. They know they are going to be two of our offensive keys.  EJ was really efficient as she normally is, she plays beyond her stat line. We have a very young group and overall I thought the team played very well." 

BOXSCORE


SOURCE:
Zachary McRae
Communications Officer
McGill Athletics & Recreation
514.616.5573 (Tel.)
www.mcgillathletics.ca
zachary.mcrae@mcgill.ca