MONTREAL – Lily Rose Chatila scored a game-high 13 points as McGill surprised the visiting Bishop's Gaiters 48-43 in women's basketball, Saturday, at Love Competition Hall.

It was McGill's lowest offensive output in a regular season win since a 44-34 decision over Concordia on Nov. 21, 2013.
 
In a game that changed leads five times, the Martlets erased an early five-point deficit to trail 13-12 after the first quarter. They took a 31-27 advantage into halftime but were outscored by a tepid 8-2 margin in the third quarter, which had the Gaiters in front 35-33 after three. McGill righted the ship in the home stretch, winning the final quarter by a 15-8 margin.
 
The next teammate closest to Chatila in scoring was Seyna Digs, who tallied eight points and pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds.
 
Eve Atchampone paced the visitors with 11 points.
 
McGill shot 33.9 per cent from the field (20/59), went 3-for-16 from three-point range and 5-for-10 from the foul-line. Bishop's shot 27.9 per cent (17/61), 4-for-19 from distance and 5-for-13 from the line.
 
The Gaiters won the turnover battle (21-19) but McGill had the edge in rebounding (45-42).

With just one game remaining before playoffs, the victory halted a four-game slide for the Martlets (8-7) and clinched third place ahead of Concordia (5-9) in the RSEQ conference. So the most plausible playoff scenario would pit second-place Bishop's against third-place McGill, while the other semi would feature Laval against Concordia.
 
McGill split the season series with BU at 2-2 and improved their all-time head-to-head record against the Gaiters to 89-84 since the first rendezvous in 1972.
 
It was a costly setback for Gaiters, who dropped to 11-4 and now face a steep uphill climb to challenge division-leading Laval (12-2). The Rouge et Or have won two of three head-to-head meetings wit Bishop's and hold a combined +25 in the point-differential with one confrontation remaining on Feb. 20.
 
It was the final regular season home game for a pair of McGill graduating seniors who were honoured in a pre-game ceremony, namely Emma-Jane Scotten, a fifth-year veteran from Ottawa who is majoring in education in global contexts; and Montrealer Katerina Stoupas, a second-year master's student in teaching and learning.
 
SCORING SUMMARY

RSEQ STATS & STANDINGS
 
U SPORTS STANDINGS
 
SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
Communications Officer
McGill Athletics and Recreation
(514) 983- 7012
earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca
www.mcgillathletics.ca