MONTREAL – Daniella Mbengo scored a season-high 22 points and Stephy Tchoukuiegno added 16 off the bench as McGill cruised to a  77-50 victory over Concordia in women's basketball at Love Competition Hall, Thursday.
 
It was McGill's highest offensive output in RSEQ play since a 93-66 win over Concordia on Nov. 18, 2017. The result put McGill (3-10) in the driver's seat for the final playoff berth over Concordia (2-11). The Martlets improved to 21-11 in their last 32 meetings with Concordia.
 
The 27-point margin of victory was critical as McGill had dropped their only previous meeting with Concordia by a 55-44 margin, so with two head-to-head games remaining between the rivals in the season series, the Martlets currently hold the point-differential tie-breaker should the teams finish tied for the last playoff berth.
 
In a total team effort, McGill won all four quarters for the first time this season, leading 17-9 after the opening frame, 34-23 at halftime and 55-40 after three, before winning the final quarter 22-10. The Martlets had a 36-27 edge in rebounding and an significant 24-16 advantage in turnovers. The Stingers only held one lead in the entire game, a 7-6 margin midway through the opening quarter.
 
Mbengo, a 5-foot-6 rookie guard from Montreal, outshone her previous personal best of 14 points against Bishop's on Dec. 3. She shot 9-for-14 from the floor, draining her only trey attempt. The 20-year-old social work freshman saw 30 minutes of court time, went 3-for-5 from the free-throw line and was also credited with three rebounds, a season-high five steals and a pair of assists.
 
Tchoukuiegno, a freshman from St. Laurent, Que., played 21 minutes and collected four rebounds and a pair of assists. She shot 6-for-13, including 2-for-5 from the three-point arc, and went 2-for-3 from the line.
 
Teammates Jessica Salanon, a finance senior from Ile-Perrot, Que., and Amelie Rochon, a medical school senior from Levis, Que., added nine points apiece, with the latter pulling down a team-high eight boards.
 
Pacing the Stingers was Florence Poirier (16 pts) and Angela Batrla (11), the younger sister of first-year McGill forward Andrea Batrla.
 
Both teams reached the 40 per cent plateau in their field-goal shooting, with McGill draining 30 of 72 attempts and Concordia connecting on 18 of 45. The Martlets were 6-for-23 from downtown, while the Stingers sunk four of 16. McGill made 11 of 14 free-throws, while Concordia was 10-for-20.
 
With three games remaining on the schedule, the fierce rivals will lock horns again on Saturday (Feb. 11) in a 2 p.m. matinee at the Loyola campus, then return for another rendezvous at Love Competition Hall on Feb. 18. That game will also be a 2 p.m. tip-off and serve as "Seniors Day", where the graduating veterans will be honoured. The regular season concludes for both squads with a matinee on Feb. 25, with McGill at UQAM (8-5), while the Stingers will host Laval (9-5).

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