After upsetting the #4 Saskatchewan Huskies on January 31, 2010, the University of Manitoba Bisons women’s basketball team looked to knock off another ranked team in the #8 Alberta Pandas on February 5, 2010. But Alberta wasn’t going to let the Bisons have their way as they cruised to an 81-54 victory at the Investors Group Athletic Centre.

Manitoba (7-11) started out cold in the first half. Their shots were not falling and soon found themselves in trouble down 12-2 just three minutes into the quarter. Manitoba just was not able to overcome that deficit as it grew throughout the game.

The Bisons were moving the ball well but they still were having trouble finding the bottom of the net. Manitoba guard Kait Flett picked up some of the slack for the Herd as she scored 12 points. Flett didn’t score a point after that, but still finished the game tied with forward Mubo Ilelaboye for a team high 12 points. Ilelaboye chipped in with 7 rebounds.

It still wasn’t enough to stop Alberta (14-5) from their scoring onslaught. With 6’3 forward Colleen Dorrian out for the Bisons, the Pandas exploited the paint heavily with forward Georgia Popovici scoring 18 points and forward Anneka Bakker chipping in with 8 points in the half. With those two leading the way, the Alberta cruised into halftime with a 42-24 lead.

“We knew that they were going to attack the paint,” Says Bisons Head Coach Pam Danis, “I didn’t think we got after it on the rebounds and we can’t give this team that many second looks.”

There seemed to be a fire burning inside the Herd as they came out for the second half. Scoring two baskets and making some strong defensive plays, Manitoba looked like they were on track to get back into the game. That fire seemed to fizzle not long after that as Alberta picked up their game. The Pandas, although scoring fewer points each quarter, controlled the play and out-rebounded the Bisons 13 to 8. Five of those rebounds were offensive rebounds. Manitoba headed into the final quarter down 57-36.

The fourth quarter was identical to the third as Alberta kept the pace of play to their liking and coasted to the victory.

Alberta was led by Popovici’s 22 points and 9 rebounds. Guard Emily Bolduc helped out with 16 points.

“We’re going to go back and watch some film,” Danis says, for preparation for the rematch Saturday. “I didn’t think we executed the game plan.”

Manitoba and Alberta play next, Saturday February 6, 2010, at the Investors Group Athletic Centre. The second game in the two game mini-series starts at 6:00 p.m.