SHERBROOKE, Que. – A well-timed timeout midway through the third quarter by the McGill Martlets changed the outlook of Saturday night's RSEQ University women's basketball game at Bishop's University. The No-2 ranked Martlets swiped momentum and went onto a 74-51 victory over the Bishop's Gaiters in Mitchell Gym.
 
Bishop's cut McGill's lead to seven, 40-33 halfway through the third stanza.  McGill's bench boss Ryan Thorne had seen enough and called timeout.  The defending national champions went on a 13-2 run to close out the quarter and never looked back.
 
"When you get down 10 to McGill it's like 20," said Gaiters' head coach Craig Norman.  "They are a good team and they just dig in and put the hammer down. We had difficulty dealing with the physicality of the game and we couldn't get a shot to drop when we needed it too."
 
Bishop's finished the game shooting 29.5 percent from the floor while McGill connected at a 41.4 percent rate. 
 
All-Canadian Alex Kiss-Rusk led all scorers netting 16 points and rounded out her "double-double" with 12 rebounds.  She battled all night long with Gaiters' fifth-year senior and captain Mara Marchizotti (Buenos Aires, Argentina/).  Marchizotti finished with nine points and eight rebounds.
 
Leading the way for Bishop's were Ashley Milhomme (Repentigny, Que./Collège Montmorency) and Edith Noblecilla (Guayaquil, Ecuador/Santo Domingo de Guzmain).  They each scored 12 points and were the only Gaiters in double figures.
 
In addition to Kiss-Rusk, Gladys Hakizimana, Frederique Potvin and Marie-Love Michel scored in double digits with 15, 13, and 13 points respectively.
 
After a slow start by both teams, McGill led 15-7 after the first frame and 34-26 at halftime.
 
Bishop's (2-2) will not have long to dwell on their second loss of the season.  They are back in action on Friday at 6 p.m. when the No. 6 Laval Rouge et Or (2-2) are in Lennoxville.  The two squads played a week ago with Bishop's stunning Laval in Quebec City by a final score of 75-71. McGill's (3-1) first semester is done; they sit tied for first place in the RSEQ with Concordia (3-1).
 
"We have to find a way to win little battles next week," Norman added.  "This is great for our program it will be our fourth game in the span of three weeks against top-10 opponents."
 
Friday's game has a special add-on for fans attending Mitchell Gym.  Patrons will have the chance to get their photo taken with 'Santa Gaiter'. He will be present to collect non-perishable food items in benefit of families of Lennoxville Elementary School. 
 
Stay up-to-date with everything Bishop's Gaiters at www.gaiters.ca or on social media using @BishopGaiters and #GaiterNation.

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