MONTREAL – Rookie Laurie Lafleur (Quebec City, QC/Champlain-Lennoxville) returned from injury and scored 17 points to lead the Bishop's Gaiters in a convincing 68-44 win over the Concordia Stingers on Thursday night in Montreal.
 
It was the front-end of a home-and-home series. Despite being shorthanded - Bishop's only had eight players dressed, and Concordia coming off a bye, it was the Gaiters who dominated.  They held Concordia to just 11 first-half points while scoring 39.
 
Early in the second, Bishop's extended their advantage to 30 before Concordia started to chip away.  The Gaiters quickly regained momentum and closed out the game without much stress.
 
Lafleur finished with a game-high 17 points including a 7-8 performance from the charity stripe.  Fellow rookie Eve Atchampone (Trois-Rivieres, QC/CEGEP St-Jean) scored 16, Jasmine Martel (Sorel-Tracy, QC/Cegep de Trois-Rivieres) had 13 and Victoria Gauna (Mendoza, Argentina) rounded out the Gaiters in double figures with 10.  Gauna also had nine rebounds and four assists.
 
Serena Tchida scored 16 in the loss for Concordia.
 
The Gaiters forced 20 turnovers and only coughed up the ball nine times themselves.
 
The win improves Bishop's to 7-6 while Concordia falls to 4-7. It was Concordia's fifth straight loss. The two teams tip off again on Saturday night at 6 p.m. in Mitchell Gym. Tickets are available at www.gaiters.ca/tickets.
 
Follow the Gaiters on Instagram @GaitersWBB and @BishopsGaiters and stay up to date with everything Bishop's Gaiters at www.gaiters.ca.
 
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