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Bishop's Gaiters women's basketball
University	Bishop's University
Head coach	Craig Norman
Conference	Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec
Location	Sherbrooke, Québec
Nickname	Gaiters
Colors	Purple and Silver
Uniforms
Home Away
Conference tournament champions
1973, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1990, 1991, 2004
Conference regular season champions
1978, 1979, 1980, 1990, 1991, 2004
U Sports tournament appearances
1972, 1973, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1990, 1991, 2004
U Sports Championships
1983, 1984

The Bishop's Gaiters women's basketball team represents Bishop's University in the RSEQ Conference of U Sports women's basketball. The program has captured the Bronze Baby twice, achieving the feat in back-to-back years (1983–84).

History

The 1982–83 season would result in the Gaiters first national championship. After losing in the Bronze Baby championship game in 1981 and 1982, the Gaiters went undefeated in league play during the regular season. Winning all three games in the National Championship, the path towards an elusive title began with a convincing 77–40 triumph over the University of New Brunswick.

Followed by a semi-final victory versus the OUA champion Brock Badgers women's basketball by a 60-42 margin, the national championship game saw them tip off versus the dynastic Victoria Vikes women's basketball program. Besting them in a convincing 64–49 final, Andrea Blackwell earned the tournament's Most Valuable Player nod.

Following up their emotional championship run in 1983, the Gaiters maintained the momentum for the next campaign. With only two regular season losses in 1983–84, the Gaiters were dominant in their first two games at the National Championships.

Defeating the Manitoba Bisons by a remarkable 32 points, prevailing by an 89-57 tally, the Gaiters met the Brock Badgers for the second consecutive time in the semis. Prevailing in a convincing 60-42 outcome, the University of Winnipeg awaited in the Finals. Going back-to-back with a 70–62 defeat of Winnipeg, Andrea Blackwell and Lynn Polson shared Tounrmanet MVP honours.

Qualifying for the postseason in 2012, the Gaiters would not reach the RSEQ Playoffs until 2018. During the 2017–18 season, Edith Noblecilla finished as the Gaiters’ leading scorer, averaging 12.8 points per game, which ranked sixth in the conference. Pacing all players in the conference with 5.4 assists per game, ranking among the top players nationally, she would also emerge as the conference leader with 2.1 steals per game. By season's end, she was recognized as the Bishop's Gaiters Female Athlete of the Year.

International

• Debbie Huband  Canada: Basketball at the 1984 Summer Olympics
• Andrea Blackwell  Canada: Basketball at the 1984 Summer Olympics
• Lynn Polson  Canada: Basketball at the 1984 Summer Olympics, won a bronze medal for Canada at the 1986 FIBA World Championship for Women
• Cynthia Johnston  Canada: Played for Canada in Basketball at the 1996 Summer Olympics
• Victoria Gauna  Argentina: 2021 FIBA Women's AmeriCup

Awards and honors

• Cynthia Johnston: Greater Saint John Sports Hall of Fame (2021 inductee)

University Awards

• 2017-18 Bishop's Gaiters Female Athlete of the Year: Edith Noblecilla
• 2019-20 Bishop's Gaiters Female Athlete of the Year: Amaiquen Siciliano

Gaiters Wall of Distinction

• Inducted in 1995: Debbie Huband
• Inducted in 1998: Andrea Blackwell
• Inducted in 2000: 1982-83 Women's Basketball Team
• Inducted in 2000: 1983-84 Women's Basketball Team
• Inducted in 2003: Ann Fitzgerald
• Inducted in 2004: Lynn Polson
• Inducted in 2008: Sue Hylland
• Inducted in 2008: Nancy Knowlton
• Inducted in 2016: Cynthia Johnston

Team awards

RSEQ Awards

• 2017-18 RSEQ Coach of the Year: Craig Norman

Rookie of the Year

• 2019-20 RSEQ Rookie of the Year: Jael Kabunda
• 2002-03: Anouk Boulanger
• 1996-97 Cynthia Hitchcock
• 1994-95: Nicky Walsh

RSEQ All-Stars

First Team

• 2019-20: Jael Kabunda

Second Team

All-Rookie Team

• 2019-20 Deborah Aboagaye
• 2019-20 Jael Kabunda
• 2019-20 Jennifer Louis
• 2018-19 Amaiquen Siciliano
• 2017-18: Marie Berrouette
• 2016-17: Metchline Gabelus
• 2015-16: Ashley Milhomme
• 2015-16: Charlene Pettigrew
• 2014-15: Noemie Hamel-Petit
• 2013-14: Mara Lis Marchizotti
• 2013-14: Naomie Zitt-James
• 2011-12: Veronique Fortin-Tremblay
• 2011-12: Eloisa Katz
• 2010-11: Gabrielle Chamberland
• 2010-11: Bailey Trafford
• 2009-10: Bethan Chalke

Statistical Leaders

• 1971-72 QUAA now known as RSEQ Scoring leader: Nancy Knowlton
• 1972-73 QUAA Scoring leader: Nancy Knowlton

U Sports Awards

• 2019-20 Kathy Shields Award: Jael Kabunda
• 2003-04 Coach of the Year: Craig Norman
• 1983-84 Peter Ennis Award: Wayne Hussey
• 1983-84 Nan Copp Award: Andrea Blackwell
• 1980-81 Peter Ennis Award: Wayne Hussey

U Sports championship MVP

• 1983-84 (tie) Andrea Blackwell and Lynn Polson
• 1982-83 Andrea Blackwell
• 1977-78 Debbie Huband

All-Canadians

• 1980-81 All-Canadian: Sue Hylland
• 1982-83 All-Canadian: Andrea Blackwell
• 1982-83 All-Canadian: Lynn Polson
• 1983-84 All-Canadian: Andrea Blackwell
• 1983-84 All-Canadian: Lynn Polson

Top 100

In celebration of the centennial anniversary of U SPORTS women's basketball, a committee of U SPORTS women's basketball coaches and partners revealed a list of the Top 100 women's basketball players. Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the first Canadian university women's contest between the Queen's Gaels and McGill Martlets on Feb. 6, 1920, the list of the Top 100 was gradually revealed over four weeks. Culminating with the All-Canadian Gala, which also recognized national award winners.

References

1. "BU Brand Visual Identity Guidelines" (PDF). Bishop's University. 2019. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
2. "Gauna Selected to National Team Roster for FIBA Women's AmeriCup 2021". gaiters.ca/. 2021-06-10. Retrieved 2021-07-19.
3. "Cynthia Johnston Named to Greater Saint John Sports Hall of Fame". gaiters.ca/. 2021-07-05. Retrieved 2021-07-19.
4. ^ "Noblecilla and Filion Claim Bishop's Athlete of the Year Honours". gaiters.ca/. 2018-04-06. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
5. ^ "Siciliano and Demosthene named Bishop's University Athletes of the Year; entire slate of awards announced". gaiters.ca/. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
6. "Wall of Distinction: DEBBIE HUBAND". gaiters.ca/. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
7. "Wall of Distinction: Andrea Blackwell". gaiters.ca/. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
8. "Wall of Distinction: GAITERS WOMEN'S BASKETBALL 1982-83". gaiters.ca/. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
9. "Wall of Distinction: GAITERS WOMEN'S BASKETBALL 1983-84". gaiters.ca/. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
10. "Wall of Distinction: ANN FITZGERALD". gaiters.ca/. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
11. "Wall of Distinction: Lynn Polson". gaiters.ca/. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
12. "Wall of Distinction: SUE HYLLAND". gaiters.ca/. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
13. "Wall of Distinction: NANCY KNOWLTON". gaiters.ca/. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
14. "Wall of Distinction: Cynthia Johnston". gaiters.ca/. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
15. "Rugby Players Bray and Scott take home top honours at Bishop's Athletic Banquet". gaiters.ca/. 2019-04-04. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
16. "U SPORTS unveils Top 100 women's basketball players of the century". saltwire.com. March 8, 2020. Retrieved May 26, 2021.

• U Sports women's basketball teams
• Basketball teams in Quebec
• Women's sports clubs and teams in Quebec
• Bishop's University
• Sport in Sherbrooke