LENNOXVILLE, Que. – Rookie Eve Atchampone (Trois-Rivieres, QC/CEGEP St-Jean) scored 22 points in 27 minutes as the Bishop's Gaiters secured their first victory of 2024 in convincing fashion, a 77-53 win over the UQAM Citadins on Thursday night in Lennoxville.
 
Bishop's improves to 3-5 while UQAM falls to 0-7 in the RSEQ.
 
The Gaiters jumped out to an 18-10 first quarter lead and were up 46-36 at the break that could have been more, except for a UQAM banked three-pointer at the buzzer.  The Citadins chipped away cutting the lead to 14 after three stanzas.  In the fourth it was all Bishop's who used a 15-4 run at the start of the frame to put the game away.  They cruised to a 77-53 win over the defending RSEQ champs.
 
Atchampone's 22 points were a career high.  She added six rebounds, two assists and two steals. Laurie Lafleur (Quebec City, QC/Champlain-Lennoxville) had 12 off the bench for Bishop's while Sandra Mbekou (Longueuil, QC/Cegep Edouard-Montpetit) and Marianne Boithias (Noirétable, FRA) each scored 10. Nine Gaiters played 14 minutes or more.
 
 
Fredlyne Verrier scored 16 in the losing cause.
 
UQAM turned the ball over 25 times that led to 33 Bishop's points while the Gaiters only coughed it up 10 times.
 
Thursday's contest was the front end of a home-and-home series.  The two teams tip-off again on Saturday in Montreal at 2 p.m.
 
Follow the Gaiters on Instagram @GaitersWBB and @BishopsGaiters and stay up to date with everything Bishop's Gaiters at www.gaiters.ca.
 
-30-