In the second game of their two game mini-series, the University of Manitoba Bisons women’s team fell to the Alberta Pandas 74-50 on February 6, 2010. In a game that started out promising for the Herd at the Investors Group Athletic Centre, it quickly resembled the previous night as Alberta took control in the second quarter and never looked back.

The game started slowly for both teams as the first basket wasn’t scored until a 1:40 into the first quarter. Manitoba was playing hard and feisty on this night and they were led by forward Kait Flett who had four points and three rebounds in the quarter. Guard Michele Hynes was scoreless in the quarter until she hit a long step-back three right over a defender. Alberta kept coming back with their own points though, and in the dying seconds of the quarter Pandas guard Emily Bolduc continued her perfect shooting with a big three-point shot to give Alberta a 17-15 lead at the break. She was 4-4 in the quarter with three of those baskets from beyond the arc.

Alberta came out gunning in the second quarter and quickly took control of the game. The Pandas were able to stretch their lead to 10 midway through the quarter. Anneka Bakker potted six points while Bolduc, who scored 11 points in the opening quarter, took only one shot and didn’t register a point. Michele Hynes was the only Manitoba player making a difference. She made some strong defensive plays and shouldered the point load for the Bisons, scoring seven of the teams 10 points. With the game starting to resemble the previous night, Alberta took a 35-25 lead into the half.

Much like the beginning of the game, the Bisons started out slow. Alberta pushed their lead from 10 to 14, but also went on their own cold streak as neither team could buy a bucket until just over five minutes remaining in the quarter Hynes answered with another three. That seemed like all the Herd could do as they couldn’t bite into the Pandas lead. It was 50-31 going into the final quarter for the Alberta Pandas.

Alberta punched in the cruise control in the fourth quarter. With Manitoba not able to put a dent into the Pandas lead, Alberta coasted to the win.

Manitoba was led by fifth year players Michele Hynes, who had 13 points, and Kait Flett, who had 11 points. Both were honoured before the game.

The Pandas were led by Anneka Bakker’s doubule-double, 17 points and 13 rebounds, and Bolduc’s 13 points and two assists. 

The University of Manitoba Bisons women’s basketball team play their last regular season game of the 2009-2010 season at the University of Winnipeg Wesmen on February 11, 2010. Game time set for 6:00 p.m. The Alberta Pandas regular season is now done and will await their opponent for the Canada West quarter finals.