SHERBROOKE, Que. – The Bishop's University women's basketball team will take on the Laval Rouge et Or at home on Friday night at 6 p.m. and in Quebec City on Saturday at 5 p.m. 
 
The Gaiters (0-6) fell to the UQAM Citadins (6-2) twice last weekend.  They lost 67-36 in Montreal on Friday and played at tightly contested match on Saturday but ultimately came up short, 63-53.  Laval (1-7) also had a pair of losses against Concordia.  They fell 60-38 at home and 58-50 in Montreal. 
 
A pair of victories over the weekend will leapfrog the Gaiters out of the basement of the RSEQ standings and into the fourth and final playoff spot currently occupied by Laval.
 
"They are an all around good team," said Gaiters head coach Alex Perno. "These are important games for us. We want to make the playoffs and Laval is a team we are battling with for the final spot right now."
 
Laval certainly has incentive to make the playoffs. The inaugural RSEQ Final Four will be hosted in their new 3000-seat gym from Feb. 31 – Mar. 2.  Both the men's and women's playoffs will take place there.  The Gaiters on the other hand look to avenge their winless season from a year ago and qualify for the post-season.
 
Bishop's lost 62-35 to the Rouge et Or in November in Lennoxville. Mara Lis Marchizotti (Buenos Aires, Argentina) led the way for the purple and silver, scoring 11 points on 5-for-9 shooting. She also had four blocks.  Jannie Jacques (Sorel-Tracy, Que.) paced the Rouge et Or's balanced attack, scoring 11 points.
 
Bishop's had a great showing in their last game from their first year players Marchizotti and Edith Noblecilla Varela (Quito, Ecuador).  Marchizotti put up a career-high 13 points and added four rebounds and Noblecilla Varela scored 15 points.  Noblecilla Varela leads the league averaging 36.7 minutes per game and 4.0 assists per game.  The floor general is also third in rebounding at 7.3 per game. 
 
The Gaiters host the Rouge et Or on Friday night at 6 p.m. in Mitchell Gym. On Saturday night they travel to Quebec City, tip-off is at 5 p.m.  Both games can be viewed live online, links are below.
 
Friday: http://live.streamit.ca/?player=2129  
Saturday: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GrvBr1GVRQ
 
Follow the Gaiters in action this weekend at www.gaiters.ca.
 
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Clare Webb
Sports Information Writer