MONTREAL - Rookie point-guard Iman Ibrahim of Montreal, scored a team-high 10 points but it was not enough because Rachel Trudeau countered with 15 points as Laval dropped McGill 70-31 in women's university basketball at Love Competition Hall, Thursday.
 
The visitors, who improved to 4-3, jumped on the Red and White (0-7) early on. They led 13-6 after 10 minutes and extended the advantage to 35-9 at the half. McGill's offence picked up a bit in the second half but the Rouge et Or won the third quarter 18-10 and took the final frame 17-12.
 
Trudeau, who had an efficient 6-for-10 shooting night, also pulled down a team-high eight rebounds for Laval and added three helpers. Teammate Marie-Pier Champagne contributed 12 points on 5-for-9 shooting, while seven other Rouge et Or players had at least five points in a balanced attack. 

Aside from Ibrahim, McGill other leading scorers were Amelie Rochon of Levis, Que., and Emma-Jane Scotten of Ottawa, who had seven points apiece.

It was McGill's third game back since returning to play after the long break, and while the defensive effort has improved, the Martlets continued to struggle to find the net offensively. They shot just 20 per cent from the floor (10/50), made four of 20 attempts from beyond the arc and drained seven of nine free-throws.
 
"We're a very young team and there's a learning curve," said head coach Rikki Bowles, who only had three players available on the bench due to injuries. "We need to focus on the little wins and positives that we can take from every game and look to build on it. Down the road these heavy minutes are going to pay off.
 
"You look at the year of eligibility on our opponent's roster versus ours, and more often than not, there's a noticeable gap. I'm proud of the ways that we are getting better."
 
The Martlets will look for revenge when they pay Laval a visit on Saturday night at the Ampitheatre Desjardins in Quebec City. The opening tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.
 
BOX SCORE
 
RSEQ STATS & STANDINGS
 
SOURCE:
Zachary McRae
Communications Officer
McGill Athletics & Recreation
514.616.5573 (Tel.)
www.mcgillathletics.ca
zachary.mcrae@mcgill.ca