Up and Down Saturday for the Gaiters
Five Bishop's teams were in action on Saturday and they combined to post a 3-2 record. The football team lost the annual Mayor's Cup game at Sherbrooke 40-28; the men's basketball team topped American International College 75-72; the Lady Gaiters basketball team fell 72-55 to the Montreal Dynamo; the lacrosse team remained undefeated by topping Trent 14-4 and the Polar Bears hockey squad won 2-1 in a shootout. The Queen's Gaels topped the Montreal Express 71-52 in the other game of the Reebok Shoot for the Cure tournament which is taking place at the Mitchell Gymnasium this weekend.
The Gaiters football squad (3-4) made the trek across town to face their rival Sherbrooke Vert et Or (4-3) in the annual Mayor's Cup. The game had tremendous playoff implications and with the win Sherbrooke has a huge foot up in the race to the post season. The Gaiters remain in fourth in the RSEQ however, they still control their own playoff destiny thanks in part to the Concordia Stingers (1-6) beating the McGill Redmen (2-5) in dramatic fashion. Bishop's travels to the provincial capital on Sunday, October 21 to face No.3 Laval Rouge et Or (7-1). Laval is coming off a 23-20 loss at the hands of the Montreal Carabins (7-1) on Saturday.
On the Bishop's campus the men's basketball squad hosted the American International College Yellow Jackets. The Gaiters started slow trailing by 10 points after the first quarter and at halftime. They turned it around after the break, outscoring their opponents 29-16 in the third frame before playing even with them in the fourth. The final score had the Gaiters on top 75-72. Leading the way for Bishop's was Jeremy Leonard-Smith (Ottawa) and Onnex Blackwood (Scarborough, Ontario). They each scored 16 points, while Mike Andrews (Oakville, Ontario) chipped in with 12 points and 11 rebounds. The win extends the Gaiters pre-season record to 4-2. They are next in action on Wednesday, October 17 when Trinity Western visits Mitchell Gymnasium at 7 p.m.
The middle game of a triple header was part of 2012 Reebok Shoot for the Cure. The Queen's Gales faced the Montreal Express. The 71-52 Queen's win extends their tournament record to 2-0 and sets up a championship match-up with the Montreal Dynamo on Sunday. Liz Boag (Kingston, Ontario) scored 17 points and added 6 assists to lead Queen's along with Jenny Wright (Kingston) who scored 17 as well. Robyn Pearson (Toronto) added 10. For the Express Kennisha Shanice-Luberisse (Montreal) led the way with 14 points while Maude Archambault (Quebec) scored 13 and Gladys Hakizimana (Montreal) netted 13.
The nightcap of the triple header had the Bishop's Lady Gaiters, donned in pink, and the Montreal Dynamo facing off. The defending champion Dynamo proved too much for the tournament hosts as they came out on top 72-55. The Dynamo led 32-25 at the half and the teams played even in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter the Dynamo out scored Bishop's 27-17 to cruise to victory. Veronique Fortin-Tremblay (Chicoutimi, Quebec) led the Gaiters with 18 points, while Riley Shkimba (Kingston, Ontario) netted 10. The Dynamo were led by Karine Bibeau (Victoriaville, Quebec) who scored 19 points while Mariran Fortier (Amos, Quebec) and Isabelle Grenier (Quebec) each had 12.
The Reebok Shoot for the Cure tournament wraps up on Sunday with the two undefeated teams, the Dynamo and Gaels tipping off at 11 a.m. while the Gaiters and Express will play at 1 p.m.
On Coulter Field the men's lacrosse team (8-0) remained undefeated and closed out their home regular season schedule. They beat the Trent Excalibur 14-4. After a slow start and 3-3 halftime score, the defending Bagattaway Cup Champion Gaiters turned up the heat and took control. They will travel to Montreal on Thursday, October 18 to play McGill (7-1) at 8:30 p.m. in what will be a match-up for first place. The Gaiters beat the Redmen 11-10 in Lennoxville on September 27.
Finally in action on Saturday night were the women's hockey Polar Bears. The game was the first of their season. They beat Nea Dynamie Estrie 2-1 in a shootout. Sara Madaleno (Aurora, Ontario) scored the winner for Bishop's. Their next game will be a rematch with Nea Dynamie Estire on Saturday, November 3 at 7 p.m. at W.B. Scott Arena.