Women’s Basketball: (Pre-Season) Upset!

Stingers Defeat Shorthanded Reigning National Champions Windsor in Preseason Encounter

SportsJulian McKenzie — Published October 17, 2015

“They shot the ball extremely well,” said Lancers head coach Chantal Vallée. “They made very tough shots. They really wanted to win, they played beautiful basketball.”

“It’s not everyday you have an opportunity to knock off the number one squad,” said Stingers head coach Tenicha Gittens.

Windsor only had nine players available to them in their pre-season encounter, as they rested a number of their players due to injuries, according to Vallée.

It is only the pre-season, but losing still isn’t an acquired taste for the defending champions.

“We’ve been in the national final for the last six years and we’ve won the last five,” Vallée said. “We’re not used to losing, we hate it. It’s not something that we enjoy.”

Concordia’s Shanica Baker led her team with 18 points and 13 rebounds in the victory, while teammate Richelle Gregoire added 17 for the Maroon & Gold as they earned their first preseason win under coach Gittens. Windsor’s Cheyenne Roger led all scorers with 23 points, but it wasn’t enough for a win.

“We work hard every single day in practice,” said Baker. “We just came out and executed.”

“I knew we could beat them,” said Stingers shooting guard Marie-Eve Martin, who scored eight points in the victory. “We have a great squad, great girls. I was going [into the game] thinking we’re coming out with a W.”

The Maroon and Gold began the game with a 8-2 lead on the Lancers but had a bit of a scare when Stingers forward Marilyse Roy-Viau fell down awkwardly and began clutching her right shoulder. Roy-Viau wailed in pain on the hardcourt before being helped off by head athletic therapist Sean Christensen.

“I just heard a crack and everything pull,” said Roy-Viau after the game. “I couldn’t feel my arm so I was scared a bit. Sean treated me, I felt a little better then I tried dribbling and it wasn’t so bad.”

Roy-Viau briefly went to the locker room for treatment, but returned to the bench near the end of the quarter. In the second quarter, Roy-Viau returned to action and immediately drove to the net to score two of her six points for the game. The fourth-year forward added that she will ensure to get her shoulder “treated” in the upcoming week.

The Lancers never led in the game, despite their best efforts to overtake Concordia’s lead. Windsor briefly tied the game in the third quarter, before Stingers shooting guard Marie-Eve Martin hit a three-pointer to give her team breathing room in a quarter where her team only scored eight points. Concordia bounced back in the fourth, however, scoring 22 points and securing their victory.

Concordia will play again next Friday evening against the Waterloo Warriors at 7 p.m. in the Concordia Gymnasium. The Stingers won’t play their first regular season game until Nov. 7, a home game against the UQAM Citadins.