SHERBROOKE, Que. – Three games in two nights against the UQAM Citadins left the Bishop's Gaiters women's basketball team with two losses.  The 2016 portion of RSEQ University women's basketball schedule tipped off on Thursday, Jan. 7 in Montreal with UQAM topping Bishop's 81-52.  On Saturday UQAM spoiled the party in Lennoxville with a 71-47 win.
 
Thursday, the UQAM Citadins jumped out to a big lead and did not look back.  UQAM won the game 81-52.  After a slow start the Gaiters found themselves in too big of a hole.  The silver lining for Bishop's was they won the fourth quarter by a score of 23-14.  Ashley Milhomme (Repentigny, Que.) led the Gaiters with 19 points in 36 minutes including a 7-9 performance from the charity stripe. Reigning Bishop's Gaiters Newcomer of the Year Noemie Hamel-Petit (Magog, Que.) chipped in with 11 points in the losing cause.  For the Citadins, three players scored in double figures led by Bianca Marois (Trois-Rivieres, Que.) who netted 21 points in just 19 minutes of court time. Jessica Lubin (Longueuil, Que.) and two-time RSEQ Defensive Player of the Year Quetelin Celestin (Cayenne, France) tallied 11 and 10 points respectively. The Citadins were able to put up 75 shots compared to just 35 by the visiting Gaiters.
 
Saturday the story was a bit different as the Gaiters held tight with the two-time RSEQ finalist Citadins. The hosts trailed by just seven points, 31-24 at half after winning the second quarter 13-10. The experienced visitors took control in third frame with a dominating 26-point quarter against Bishop's 8.  The result put the game all but out of reach as UQAM cruised to a 71-47 victory.  In the win Celestin registered a strong double-double with 20 points and 15 rebounds for UQAM. Lubin chipped in with 13.  On the Gaiters side Milhomme once again stood out, scoring 16 points on 6-10 shooting. Hamel-Petit added 13 while former RSEQ all-rookie team member Naomi James (Ajax, Ont.) netted 11 points.  Rookie Charlene Pettigrew struggled from the field managing just one basket in 13 attempts but did pull down 12 rebounds. UQAM was able to fire 80 shots, making 32 of them while Bishop's was only 14-44 from the floor. The discrepancy came thanks to 22 offensive rebounds by UQAM and 27 Bishop's turnovers. The Gaiters hauled in eight offensive boards while only forcing 14 Citadin turnovers.
 
Bishop's remains winless sitting at 0-6 on the season after dropping both ends of a home-and-home series with the UQAM Citadins (5-1). They now head into a bye week and are next in action on Friday, Jan. 22 when the Laval Rouge et Or visit Mitchell Gym at 6 p.m.
 
Stay up to date with everything purple and silver at www.gaiters.ca or on social media using @BishopsGaiters.
 
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