Box Score

MONTREAL -- Revenge is a dish best served cold.  Kristy Awikeh scored a career-high 21 points as the McGill University women's basketball team rallied from an early six-point deficit and stifled Concordia 74-66 to open the second semester on a high note at the John Dore Court, Thursday.

The result avenged an embarrassing 55-37 Martlets loss to Concordia on Nov. 11 and both teams now have identical 4-3 records, sitting tied for second place in the RSEQ conference standings.

It was McGill's highest offensive output in almost a year, dating back to a 77-50 home-court conquest over Concordia, a span of 17 games overall. The Martlets trailed 20-17 after the opening quarter but took a 40-37 lead by halftime and extended it to 59-48 after three.

"It was a really big team win and everyone contributed. It was just such a difference from the first time we played them," said Rikki Bowles, a former McGill player who is now in her fourth year as head coach. "Offensively, the ball moved much better, we were fighting hard, finishing inside and had a lot of layups, points in the paint. In our last game with Concordia, we settled for a lot of threes but today we only took 10 attempts. So we really just attacked a lot more."

The Martlets had a decisive 35-16 edge in rebounds. They shot a season high 54.5 per cent from the floor, making 30 of 55 attempts and draining 12 of 17 from the free-throw line. McGill's tenacious man-to-man defensive structure held Concordia shooting to 42.6 per cent (23/54). Both teams got to the foul line 17 times, with Concordia converting 15 of those compared to 12 by the visitors.

Awikeh, a six-foot centre from Aleppo, in Syria, more than doubled her previous single-game high of 10 points. The 24-year-old science senior was 9-for-11 shooting and went 3-for-5 from the line. She pulled down six rebounds and was credited with one assist.

"Kristy had a really great game," noted Bowles. "She just simplified her game offensively and finished easy buckets. Our guards were looking for her. The difference today was that we went away from running a lot of sets. We played a lot more in transition and just moved the ball, attacked. Penetration principles. Prior to today, we would get into games where teams had scouted what we do and they took away our first or second option and we became a little too robotic in our play... Today, without a specific play to run, we just had to move the ball, look to create and play together. We did a lot more of that and Kristy had a lot of great opportunities."

Joining Awikeh in double-digit scoring was Montrealers Daniella Mbengo (17), a sophomore, and Seyna Diggs (12), a freshman. Mbengo, who shot 6-for-7 from the field and 5-for-5 from the line, added six assists and a pair of steals.

"Dani  got to the basket really well, didn't settle for outside shots," Bowles said. "On top of having to defend Areej Burgonio, one of the best players in the league, I thought Dani did a great job of limiting her."

McGill teammates Stephy Tchoukuiegno and Katie Rathwell added eight and seven points, respectively, off the bench.

Burgonio and Rowena Blais led the Stingers with 16 points apiece, while Serena Tchida added 15.

The cross-town rivals will square off again on Saturday (Jan. 13) in a 2 p.m. tip-off at Love Competition Hall. After that, their only remaining  rendezvous will be on Feb. 17.

BOXSCORE

RSEQ STATS & STANDINGS
 
SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
Sports Information Officer
McGill University Athletics & Recreation
514-983-7012 (cell)
www.mcgillathletics.ca
earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca