Sam Reynolds / McGill TribuneA team that shoots 29.4, 18.2, and 57.1 per cent from the field (three-point line and foul line respectively) isn’t usually very successful. But the McGill Martlet basketball team had something right this season. On Friday night, their whole season came together, overshadowing their poor shooting for the night.
The Martlets defeated the Concordia Stingers 56-49 in the RSEQ championship game at Love Competition Hall to claim their first conference title since 1996. Star centre Anneth Him-Lazarenko recorded another double-double with a team-high 17 points and 12 rebounds as she anchored McGill throughout the entire game.
Both teams looked a bit hesitant in the opening minutes, clearly understanding the implications of the game. Nevertheless, they were highly competitive as they exchanged baskets.
McGill took control with just under four minutes to go in the first quarter, as Him-Lazarenko and senior guard Natalie Larocque combined to score the team’s final eight points of the frame. McGill closed on an 8-0 run, giving them a ten-point lead heading into the second.
While McGill looked to control the scoreboard, their offence never seemed in sync. The Martlets commited 20 turnovers in the game, either attributed to the team’s nerves or overall lack of rhythm—the latter being a reoccuring problem throughout the year. However, Concordia was couldn’t to take advantage, scoring only 12 points on these chances due to their own faults and McGill’s excellent transition defence.
The end of the second half was similar to the first. McGill controlled the glass and their defence was suffocating, forcing the Stingers to commit five turnovers. Larocque, Valerie L’Ecuyer, and Francoise Charest combined to score all of McGill’s points in the quarter and helped extend the Martlets’ lead to 14 at the break.
One of McGill’s strengths throughout the regular season was their rebounding, which was on full display Friday as the team pulled down a season-high 63 rebounds, 26 of which were offensive. Concordia only managed to pull down 36. For beginner basketball fans, that margin is absurd, and speaks to the total control by the Martlets.
Concordia opened the third quarter with much resilience, cutting the lead to seven points by the halfway point, but this was the closest they came for the rest of the game. Led by a pair of threes by Charest and Marie-Eve Martin, the Martlets closed the quarter with a 13-1 run, expanding their lead to 48-29 by the end of the third.
McGill lost a little focus, allowing Concordia to cut the lead to nine, led by the Stingers’ most effective player, Kaylah Barrett, who was aggressive all night, heading to the line 14 times, finishing with a game-high 23 points. However, the Martlets locked down for the final stretch and didn’t let their lead dwindle any further.
After a great regular season last year, the Martlets weren’t successful during the playoffs, losing in the RSEQ semi-finals, disappointing the players and Head Coach Ryan Thorne. To win this year validates the team’s hard work and dedication to improvement after last year’s discouraging result, and Thorne’s great work with the team. After winning three conference coach of the year awards (including one this season), the conference title is Thorne’s first since joining the Martlets nine years ago.
The Martlets advance to the CIS championship on March 17-19 in Calgary, looking to showcase their talent against the nation’s best and build on their already successful season.
