LENNOXVILLE, QUE. – Amaiquen Siciliano scored a game-high 26 points as division-leading Bishop's rallied from a nine-point deficit to defeat McGill 76-63 in women's basketball at the Mitchell Gymnasium, Saturday.
 
It was McGill's second-highest offensive output during the regular season, two shy of their total in a 72-65 home loss to Bishop's on Dec. 3, 2022.
 
The lead changed hands six times with McGill opening a 22-13 cushion late in the first quarter and taking a 22-15 lead into the second. But the Gaiters fought back to hold a 36-35 margin at halftime, then took control with a 55-43 edge heading into the final stanza.
 
A pair of Martlets reached double-digits in scoring, with Emma-Jane Scotten of Ottawa, netting 15 and Montrealer Daniella Mbengo collecting 10.  Scotten, an elementary education junior, went 4-for-8 from the arc, grabbed six rebounds, and was credited with three steals and three assists. Mbengo, a social work freshman, contributed four rebounds, a game-high seven assists and three steals.
 
Two other Martlets just missed double figures, with Charlotte Guerin and Jessica Salanon registering nine points apiece. For the second straight game, McGill was without the services of injured freshman guard Stephy Tchoukuiegno, who is averaging a team-leading 8.9 points per game.
 
BU had a margin in rebounds (43-35) and an advantageous edge in turnovers (22-20). The Gaiters connected on 41.4 per cent of their field-goal attempts (24/48) compared to McGill, which shot at 37.9 clip (22/58). The victors went 8-for-29 from three-point range and 14-for-29 from the free-throw line. The Martlets replied with an 8-for-23 effort from downtown and went 11-for-16 from the line.
 
Bishop's improved to 10-2 and their magic number to clinch first place ahead of UQAM (8-4) is one victory. They have three games remaining against the Citadins.
 
With four games remaining in regular season play, McGill (2-10) will now turn their focus on beating out Concordia (2-10) for the fourth and final playoff berth in the five-team RSEQ conference.
 
The cross-town rivals will confront each other three consecutive times, beginning with a home game on Thursday, Feb. 9 at Love Competition Hall, which will celebrate Black History Month on campus. The teams will have a rematch two days later at Concordia, then meet again for a matinee at McGill on Feb. 18. The Stingers have won the only meeting thus far, a 55-44 decision on Nov. 12.
 
The final RSEQ game for both teams will be Laval at Concordia (Feb. 25) and McGill at UQAM (Feb. 26).
 
BOXSCORE
 
RSEQ STATS & STANDINGS


SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
Sports Information Officer
Athletics & Recreation
McGill University
514-398-7012 (Tel.)
www.mcgillathletics.ca
earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca