SHERBROOKE, Que. – The fall sports season at Bishop's University came to a close on Saturday, Nov. 7. That was the case after the men's lacrosse team lost their Baggataway Cup semifinal to the Western Mustangs by a final score of 17-12.  Men's rugby fell a night earlier by a final of 22-11 to the Montreal Carabins in the RSEQ University men's rugby semifinal in Montreal. The men's and women's basketball teams also wrapped up their pre-season over the weekend.
 
Lacrosse
On Coulter Field, the host site of the 2015 Baggataway Cup the Gaiters and Mustangs battled in a wild affair on Saturday afternoon.  The teams exchanged 6-1 runs in the first half; Western first followed by the Gaiters as they went into halftime knotted at 7-7. The Mustangs went on another 6-1 run in the third, one that Bishop's could not answer despite their best efforts late.  Western held on for the 17-12 victory and punched their ticked to the Baggataway Cup Final on Sunday. 
 
It was a different story for the Mustangs in the Championship as they fell behind early to the McGill Redmen and could not catch up as McGill claimed the second Baggataway Cup in school history with a 15-11 victory.
 
Men's Rugby
Coming off a tight 15-7 quarter-final victory over the Sherbrooke Vert et Or Bishop's was poised for a tilt with the Montreal Carabins on Friday night in Montreal. An early penalty kick gave Bishop's a 3-0 lead before Montreal answered with a converted try and their own penalty to grab a 10-3 advantage. Bishop's kicked through another three points to cut the deficit to 10-6 at halftime. Montreal scored first in the second half with another converted try before Bishop's scored their first try of the night to give the Gaiters hope as they trailed 17-11 with six minutes remaining.  Montreal bent but they did not break as they went on to score one more time and punch their ticket to the RSEQ Final with a 22-11 victory.
 
The loss ends Bishop's 2015 campaign in the RSEQ semifinal for the second straight year while Montreal will move onto play McGill in the championship.
 
Men's Basketball
The Bishop's Gaiters men's basketball team wrapped up their pre-season play with a pair of exhibition contests in Massachusetts.  On Friday night they tipped off at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.  The Gaiters trailed at halftime but rallied to snag a 77-67 victory.  They were back in action on Saturday against American International College.  A tough AIC squad ran past the Gaiters 72-56 to leave Bishop's with a 5-8 overall pre-season record.
 
The Gaiters will tip-off for real on Thursday night at UQAM.  They will play their first home game of the RSEQ University season on Saturday, Nov. 14 when they host the McGill Redmen, a rematch of the 2015 RSEQ Championship Final, in Mitchell Gym at 8 p.m.
 
Women's Basketball
The Bishop's Gaiters women's basketball team will look to build confidence off an impressive final weekend of exhibition basketball.  They were in Vermont to play Southern Vermont College on Saturday afternoon and Lyndon State University on Sunday.  Bishop's sizzled on Saturday as they shot an astonishing 78 percent from three-point range to top Southern Vermont College 88-35. They backed that performance up with a strong defensive game against Lyndon State, holding them to 18 percent shooting from the floor.  The Gaiters rolled to their second straight victory, a 67-29 win. The two victories mean Bishop's finishes their pre-season with an overall mark of 5-6. 
 
The Gaiters will tip off for the first time in the RSEQ University women's basketball season on Thursday in Montreal against the UQAM Citadins. They will open up at home on Saturday, Nov. 14 as they host the McGill Martlets at 6 p.m. in Mitchell Gym.
 
Follow all the Bishop's Gaiters teams both in season and in the offseason at www.gaiters.ca or on social media using @BishopsGaiters.
 
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