SHERBROOKE, Que. – Jane Gagne scored 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds in just 23 minutes of floor time to lead the nation's second-ranked Laval Rouge et Or over the Bishop's Gaiters 65-49 on Saturday night in Lennoxville. It was the second time in as many nights the women's basketball squads stepped on the court, with Laval also winning on Friday in Quebec City.
 
There was a torrid pace to open the game leaving Laval with a 21-12 first quarter lead. The Rouge et Or took 20 shots including 11 from three point range in the frame.  Bishop's meanwhile was 5-16 from the floor.
 
Gagne (Saguenay, Que.) got going in the second frame. She scored seven of the team's 16 points as Laval was able to extend their lead to 37-27 at the break. Their advantage came thanks to attempting nine more field goals than the hosts. Bishop's cut the lead to just six with 2:16 left before Laval closed the stanza on a 4-0 run to regain momentum.
 
After the teams exited from the locker room, Laval's depth started to show. All twelve Rouge et Or played in first half and nine found the scoresheet.  That compared to just eight Gaiters who stepped on the floor. Gagne chalked up nine more points and was 4-4 from the floor in frame as the Rouge et Or took control of game. They outscored Bishop's 14-7 and grabbed a 51-34 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
 
The two teams exchanged blows in the final quarter; Bishop's won the frame 15-14 but fell 65-49.
 
Ashley Milhomme (Repentigny, Que. /Collège Montmorency) (Repentigny, Que.) chalked up a 'double-double' with 13 points and 11 rebounds in 32 minutes of court time to lead the way for the Gaiters.
 
Bishop's floor general Edith Noblecilla (Guayaquil, Ecuador/Santo Domingo de Guzmain) played all 40 minutes.  She scored eight points, grabbed eight rebounds and added six assists while co-captain and leading scorer Mara Marchizotti (Buenos Aires, Argentina) tallied 13 points on 6-8 shooting.
 
"Laval is super talented, they are deep and well coached," said Gaiters head coach Craig Norman. "They play with a purpose and they play fast. It was a good lesson for us. I was happy with the way we competed tonight and didn't quit."
 
Gabrielle Girard (Quebec, Que.) and Claudia Emond (Saguenay, Que.) rounded out the Laval players with double figures scoring 11 and 10 respectively. The game ended with every Rouge et Or playing at least seven minutes and 11 of them scoring at least two points.
 
Laval heads into the bye week with a firm hold on the top spot in the RSEQ and their U Sports No. 2 ranking.  They sit at 17-2 overall, 7-1 in conference play while Bishop's drops to 6-7 overall and 1-5 in the RSEQ.
 
Next up for the Gaiters they will host UQAM (11-7, 5-3) in the front end of a home-and-home on Friday night at 6 p.m. in Mitchell Gym.  The game will be part of the BellLetsTalk festivities as Bishop's is one of the 53 Canadian institutions participating in the oneteamformentalhealth initiative to keep the conversation going about mental health.
 
Stay up-to-date with the Gaiters anytime at www.gaiters.ca or on social media using @BishopsGaiters.
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