LENNOXVILLE, Que. – Junior Marie Berrouette's (Montreal, Que./Dawson College) old-fashion three-point play with nine seconds remaining put the Bishop's Gaiters ahead for good as they beat the Concordia Stingers 69-66 on Saturday night in Mitchell Gym.
 
The win is the Gaiters third of the year in as many meetings against the Stingers and second in three nights. It moves Bishop's to within one game of first place in the RSEQ University Women's Basketball Standings. The Gaiters are now 7-4 while Concordia falls to 3-8. Laval leads the way at 8-3.
 
The first half saw Bishop's shooting take on Concordia's size.  The Gaiters went 6-16 from three-point range to keep them in the game while the Stingers were a force inside.  They scored 18 points in the paint compared to just six from the Gaiters.  Concordia led 35-34 at the break.
 
Gaiters rookie Jael Kabunda (Montreal, Que./College Montmorency) scored 18 points and grabbed 21 rebounds in Montreal on Thursday, however picked up two quick fouls in the first quarter and was a non-factor early on.  Concordia senior Caroline Task was in the same boat as she also only played seven of the first 20 minutes due to foul trouble.
 
The Gaiters made a run in the third quarter to grab a 49-45 lead entering the final stanza. That's where the game got tight. Both teams went back and forth.  Tied at 66 and the shot clock winding down, Berroutte drove the lane, finished the left-handed lay-up and was fouled.  She calmly knocked down the free throw to give Bishop's a three-point advantage. Concordia called time out but was unable to get a shot off as the Bishop's defense once again stood strong and held on for the 69-66 victory.
 
RSEQ leading scorer Amaiquen Siciliano (Buenos Aires, Argentina/Velez Sarsfield) scored 23 points on 6-15 shooting in 39 minutes for Bishop's.  Her shooting early on kept Bishop's within reach. Rookie Deborah Aboagye (Montreal, Que.) scored 13 points off the bench and Berrouette added 12 to round out Gaiters in double figures. Rookie of the Year candidate Kabunda grabbed 14 rebounds including seven at the offensive end and scored nine points.
 
Nikita Telesford led all scorers in the loss with 25 points while reigning U SPORTS Rookie of the Year Myriam Leclerc scored 11 after being locked down by most of the night by the Gaiters' Metchline Gabelus (Montreal, Que./Champlain College St-Lambert).
 
The Gaiters grabbed 36 rebounds including 18 at the offensive end of the court.
 
Next up the Gaiters will play a home-and-home with McGill (5-7) starting on Thursday in Montreal.  They play the back end on Saturday at 6 p.m. in Mitchell Gym.
 
Stay up-to-date anytime with the Bishop's Gaiters at www.gaiters.ca or on social media by using @BishopsGaiters.
 
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