Rookie cager nets 17 as Martlets slay Knights

COLCHESTER, Vt. – Freshman Anneth Him-Lazarenko of Ste. Dorothée, Que., posted game-highs of 17 points and nine rebounds as McGill surprised Saint Michael’s College 55-50, in women’s preseason basketball at the Ross Sports Center in Colchester, Vt., Sunday.

The win over St. Mike’s, an NCAA Division II program, avenged a 56-50 loss to the Purple Knights on Nov. 12, 2006. It was the second win for the Martlets over a NCAA team in a week. On Halloween, McGill pummeled Nazareth College, a Division II squad, 79-39. It marked the first time since wins over Thomas College and Lyndon State in January, 2005, that the Martlets had posted a pair of victories over NCAA teams in the same season.

Junior Michelle Otey of Southborough, Mass., had a team-high 15 points for the Knights.

Him-Lazarenko, a 5-foot-10 forward out of Vanier College, shot 5-for-12 from the floor and made seven of 10 free-throws before fouling out. She has scored in double figures in all nine McGill contests to date.

Teammates Aurélie Lauzier-Hudon of Cowansville, Que., and Nathifa Weekes of Brossard, Que., also reached double figures in scoring. Lauzier contributed 11 points with a pair of rebounds and three steals, while Weekes had 10 points and grabbed six boards to go along with four assists and three steals. Montrealer Stephanie Bergeron added nine points, while freshman Elise Lepine of Mission, B.C., had five and Caroline Hébert, a senior from Repentigny, Que., netted three.

The Martlets led 26-23 at the half and had an impressive 44-34 margin in rebounds to go with a 13-8 edge in steals. McGill shot 30.5 per cent from the field, 27.3 from three-point range and 76.2 from the free-throw line, compared to 34.0, 18.8 and 76.5, respectively, for the Purple Knights.

McGill, which finished their preseason with a 3-6 record, open the regular campaign at home to Bishop’s on Friday (Nov. 14, 6 p.m.). The event is being billed as a “Shoot for a Cure Pink Ribbon” game and net proceeds will be earmarked for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. More details will be announced later in the week.