Fast start fuels McGill past Bishop’s as Martlets make statement in second-semester opener

MONTREAL — Lily Rose Chatila scored a game-high 18 points and Emilia Diaz-Ruiz added 14 as McGill opened the second semester with a convincing 66–50 victory over visiting Bishop's in RSEQ women's university basketball Thursday night at Love Competition Hall. The win improved McGill to 5–2 in league play and leapfrogged the Martlets into second place, past the Gaiters who slipped to 4–3.

McGill set the tone early, jumping out to a 23–13 lead after the first quarter and carrying a 38–27 advantage into halftime. The Martlets kept their foot on the gas in the third, outscoring Bishop's 16–12 to stretch the margin to 54–39, then closed it out with a 12–11 edge in the fourth for the 16-point margin of victory.

McGill shot 45.3 per cent from the floor and 6-for-18 from three-point range, while Bishop's was held to 31.1 per cent shooting overall. The Martlets also went 12-for-16 from the free-throw line, compared with a perfect but limited 4-for-4 showing by the Gaiters.

Chatila was efficient at both ends, hitting 7-of-12 from the field and adding three steals. Diaz-Ruiz filled the stat sheet with eight rebounds, three assists and two blocks, while Emma-Jane Scotten chipped in 10 points and Daniella Mbengo added eight off the bench. McGill held a slim 36–37 rebounding deficit but made the difference by converting 24 points off turnovers and outscoring Bishop's 36–20 in the paint.

Zou Boithias led the Gaiters with 18 points and nine rebounds, while Laurie Lafleur had nine points and Eve Atchampone contributed five points and five assists. Bishop's committed 22 turnovers and managed just six bench points on the night.

The contest marked the 178th lifetime meeting between the longtime rivals, with McGill holding a narrow 91–87 edge in the all-time series. The teams have split their two games this season, with BU holding a four-point lead in the head-to-head point-differential tie-breaker. Two confrontations remain, and the rivals will meet again quickly, with McGill travelling to Lennoxville to face the Gaiters on Saturday (Jan. 10) in a 6 p.m. tipoff at Mitchell Gymnasium.