LENNOXVILLE, Que. – The No. 6 Bishop's Gaiters refused to let 30 minutes of basketball ruin seniors' night for their five graduates. They used a 15-3 run and a 20-9 fourth quarter to propel them to a 69-63 win over the UQAM Citadins on Thursday night.
 
UQAM, fighting for second place in the RSEQ, came out of the gate as the quicker of the two teams.  They grabbed an early 5-0 lead to silence the Mitchell Gym crowd. Bishop's responded but the Citadins led 20-13 after the first quarter.
 
The second stanza was back and forth, UQAM extended their lead to nine points before Bishop's chipped away.  Jael Kabunda (Montreal, Que./College Montmorency) got into foul trouble for Bishop's when she picked up her third personal halfway through the quarter.  The Gaiters trailed 39-32 at the break.
 
Bishop's chipped away but could only get within five heading to the final 10 minutes but perhaps the turning point was with 0.2 seconds remaining when Kabunda picked up her fourth foul. Fredlaine Verrier responded and picked up her second unsportsmanlike foul of the game and was ejected.
 
After Bishop's cut the lead to one, UQAM made a three-pointer with 5:27 remaining before Bishop's took over. Deborah Aboagye (Montreal, Que./Vanier College) knocked down at triple with 3:30 left to put Bishop's on top, a lead they didn't relinquish.
 
All-Canadian candidate Amaiquen Siciliano (Buenos Aires, Argentina/Velez Sarsfield) scored a game-high 24 points and Aboagye added 11.  Jasmine Martel (Sorel-Tracy, Que./Cegep de Trois-Rivieres) scored 10 off the bench and Jael Kabunda (Montreal, Que./College Montmorency) grabbed 10 rebounds. In the win.
 
After the game the five Bishop's Gaiters graduating seniors were celebrated in an emotional ceremony in Mitchell Gym.


Seniors: Deborah Aboagye (Montreal, Que./Vanier College), Jennifer Louis (Montreal, Que./Cegep Edouard-Montpetit), Amaiquen Siciliano (Buenos Aires, Argentina/Velez Sarsfield), Katerina Stoupas (Montreal, Que./Dawson College), Jael Kabunda (Montreal, Que./College Montmorency) and coach Dianna Ros 
 
Next Up
The Gaiters (14-2) are the top team in the RSEQ heading into playoffs. They will have a week to prepare for the Concordia Stingers (4-11). That RSEQ Semifinal will take place in Mitchell Gym on Thursday, March 2 at either 6 p.m. or 7 p.m.  Concordia will close out their season this Saturday against Laval.
 
Social Corner
Stay up-to-date anytime with the Bishop's Gaiters at www.gaiters.ca or on social media by using @BishopsGaiters.  The Women's Basketball team is on Instagram @GaitersWBB.
 
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