February 25, 2010

Men's Game Notes / Women's Game Notes (pdf)

THIS WEEK: The Bishop’s Gaiters close out the Quebec University Basketball League season with a pair of games this weekend. Friday night is Senior Night, and will see the Gaiters host the UQAM Citadins. Bishop's Students will be admitted free for this game. On Saturday, the Gaiters will head up to Quebec City to play the Laval Rouge et Or.

FOLLOW, FOLLOW: Follow the Gaiters on Twitter with quarterly updates on the Gaiters’ website (http://www.ubishops.ca/gaiters) or at http://www.twitter.com/BishopsGaiters .

NOTHIN’ BUT NET: Both games this weekend will be webcast. Friday’s game will be available on SSN Canada, with commentary by Sean O’Neill ’08 and Jordan Winnett ’10. Saturday’s contest will be available in French on http://www.rougeetor.tv.

SENIORS' NIGHT: Friday night's game against UQAM is Seniors' Night. Prior to the men's game, the Gaiters' six graduating seniors (Robyn Wilson, Mélanie Ouellet-Godcharles, Marie-Ève Lemoine, Damon Thomas-Anderson, Hermon Tesfaghebriel and Tim McAleenan) will be honoured.

WOMEN'S NOTES:

THE RECORDS: The Gaiters are 11-12 overall, and tied for fourth in the QUBL at 5-9. (McGill is third at 6-9, while Concordia is 5-10.) UQAM is 13-11 overall & vs. the CIS, and 8-6 in the league, while Laval is 18-6 overall (18-5 vs. CIS) and 12-2 in league play.

LAST TIME OUT: The Gaiters split last week, notching a 64-54 win over McGill on Friday before falling 68-57 to Concordia on Saturday. On Friday, Mélanie Ouellet-Godcharles scored 16 points to lead the Gaiters, including a pair of three-pointers early in the fourth quarter. Marie-Ève Lemoine scored 12 points and tied her career high with five assists, while Robyn Wilson scored ten. On Saturday, Concordia, led by 15 points from Magalie Beaulieu, downed the Gaiters 68-57. The Gaiters were led by 16 points each from Gabrielle Côté-Caouette and Katy Germain. Marie-Ève Lemoine’s 12 points, her third double-digit game in the last four, rounded out the Gaiters’ leading scorers, while Liz Coolen led Bishop’s with a career-high eight rebounds.

THE SCENARIO: The Gaiters control their own destiny to make the playoffs, and would clinch a playoff spot with a win. A Concordia loss on Friday would also put Bishop’s into the post-season. To finish third, the Gaiters would need to win both their games, and McGill must lose their game on Saturday.

THE SERIES - UQAM: The Gaiters are 18-10 all time against UQAM, with the Citadins having won the last five games between the teams, including all three this year. Bishop’s is 9-5 against the Citadins at the Mitchell Gym.

THE SERIES - LAVAL: This will be the fourth meeting of the year between the Rouge et Or and the Gaiters, and the third matchup in the past six weeks. Laval has won all three games this year, and the Rouge et Or holds a 25-11 lead in the series since 2002-03.

GIMME THAT!: Annick Stephanny Charles continues to lead the QUBL with 2.6 steals per game.

UP NEXT: If the Gaiters make the playoffs, they would play at either UQAM or Laval in a QUBL semifinal on Wednesday, March 3. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

MEN'S NOTES:

THE RECORDS: The Gaiters are 11-15 overall, 9-15 vs. the CIS and 6-8 in QUBL play. They are locked into fourth place, as they can beat neither Laval nor McGill in a tiebreaker. UQAM  is 15-13 overall (14-9 CIS) and has locked up first place in the QUBL with a 10-4 record. Laval is 14-17 (12-14 CIS) and 8-6 in the league. Laval and McGill will play each other in the other QUBL semi-final, but home court is yet to be determined.

LAST TIME OUT: The Gaiters swept their two home games last weekend, clinching their first playoff berth since 2006. The Gaiters downed McGill 86-74 on Friday, and they followed that up with a 73-67 win on Saturday to eliminate Concordia. On Friday, Onnex Blackwood’s 21 points and seven rebounds led the Gaiters to the 86-74 triumph over the Redmen. Damon Thomas-Anderson scored a season-high 18 points, while Ryan Steele and Hermon Tesfaghebriel each scored 12. Tesfaghebriel also led the Gaiters with six assists, a career-high. On Saturday, Tesfaghebriel scored 23 points as the Gaiters got past Concordia 73-67. Oraine Green chipped in 13 points, while Blackwood scored eight points and picked up ten rebounds.

THE SERIES—UQAM: The Gaiters and UQAM will be meeting for the fourth time this year, with the home team winning each game. UQAM leads the all-time series 15-12.

THE SERIES—LAVAL: This will be the fourth meeting of the year between the Rouge et Or and the Gaiters, and the third of three games over the last six weeks of the season. Laval has won all three meetings this year. In regular season games, Laval is 25-7 vs. Bishop’s since 2002-03.

YEAR OF THE ROOKIE: Onnex Blackwood, a true freshman, is third in the QUBL (51^st in CIS) with 14.4 points per game. He has scored in double figures in 10 of 14 league games, with five 20-point games. He is also fifth in the league with 5.9 rebounds per game and sixth in field goal percentage (.473). He is the QUBL’s leading rookie in scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage, offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds, and minutes played.

TIM THE TOOLMAN: Tim Hunter is atop the QUBL leader board in steals (2.5 / game) and blocks (1.1). Hunter, who recently moved to point guard, is second in assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.5, and third with 3.4 assists per game.