SHERBROOKE, Que.  – The Bishop's Gaiters women's basketball squad is in tough this weekend as they face the No. 2 McGill Martlets in a home-and-home series, Thursday in Montreal and at home in Lennoxville on Saturday night.  Both games will tip-off at 6 p.m. 
 
After suffering back-to-back losses this past weekend to the No. 7 Laval Rouge et Or the Gaiters are looking to find the win column for the first time in the 2015-16 RSEQ season.  Bishop's fell 80-55 at home on Friday and after a quick turnaround lost 74-43 at Laval. 
 
Gaiters freshmen have stepped up their game. Ashley Milhomme (Repentigny, Que.) and Charlene Pettigrew (Montreal) scored 13 and seven points and nine and eight points respectively against Laval.  Sophomore Noemie Hamel-Petit (Magog, Que.) earned Provigo Robert Lafond Athlete of the Week honours on the heels of a double-double, 13 points and 11 rebounds, in the second contest. 
 
McGill and the Gaiters last met in Mitchell Gym on Nov. 14.  The Martlets won 70-44.  Hamel-Petit had 10 points and three rebounds for Bishop's.  McGill's Dianna Ros (Montreal) scored 13 points, had four rebounds and five assists.  Ros currently sits atop the RSEQ standings with 5.7 helpers per game.  Martlet, Mariam Sylla (Conakry, Guinea) is also first in rebounding, averaging 9.7 per game. 
 
"McGill is a well-coached team," said Gaiters coach Craig Norman. "They lead the country in a number of statistical categories and value the basketball.  They know how to win. That being said we are looking forward to the challenge.  We want to be competitive and win battles."
 
McGill faced Concordia (2-8) last weekend.  McGill walked over the Stingers 64-49 at Concordia but just squeaked out a 72-70 win at home in overtime. 
 
Bishop's and McGill will play a home-and-home series.  Thursday they tip-off at 6 p.m. in Montreal, while on Saturday Lennoxville hosts at 6 p.m. The NBA all-star tour is also in town and will have many festivities at Bishop's over the weekend.
 
Tickets for Saturday's game are available at www.gaiters.ca/tickets.
 
Webcasts:
Thursday: http://portal.stretchinternet.com/mcgill/
Saturday: www.gaiters.ca/webcast
 
For everything Gaiters hoops related go to www.gaiters.ca and follow @BishopsGaiters on social media. 
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Clare Webb
Sports Information Intern