Box Score The Calgary Dinos women's basketball team completed a weekend sweep over the Manitoba Bisons with a hard fought 65-63 win on Saturday, Nov. 16 at the Investors Group Athletic Centre (U of M campus).
Calgary (4-2) has now won four straight conference games. Tamara Jarrett led the Dinos with 14 points after missing most of the second half on Friday with an injury. Lawrie Saunders chipped in with 12 points and eight rebounds.
Jenilyn Monton and Stephen Gill led the Bisons (3-3) offensively with 11 points. Manitoba has now lost three of their last four conference games.
Calgary had a 13 point lead after three quarters of play but the Bisons were lethal from long range in the final quarter to charge back into the game. They actually led with three minutes to play but Calgary took advantage of a late turnover to put the game on ice.
"We have been in a lot of tight games this year already," said Bisons co-head coach
Michele Hynes. "It was nice to see some different players step up and I thought we had a good fight."
The Dinos kept their momentum going from Friday afternoon's game early in this one, shooting 8-for-18 (44.4%) in the first quarter from the field and held an 18-9 lead. The Bisons played stronger in the second quarter but Calgary continued its consistent play offensively and the visitors led 30-23 at halftime.
Manitoba stayed within that margin for most of the third quarter but the Dinos, as they have all weekend, opened up the game with their ability to collect offensive rebounds. Calgary out-rebounded the Bisons 8-6 on the Manitoba glass and took a 13 point lead into the fourth quarter.
However, the Bisons got back into the game with their ability to shoot the three. Robin Eyer hit triples on back-to-back possessions with six minutes left to pull them back in the game and then a few minutes later, Monton hit a pair of threes to tie the game up at 56. The three pointers were a part of 15-1 Bisons run.
Gill put the Bisons ahead for the first time in the game at the 3:21 mark of the fourth quarter and the home side led by two. The game would become tied in the final minute of play but Calgary would go back ahead 62-60 when Kristie Sheils hit a hanging jumper from the top of the key with the shot clock expiring.
The Bisons turned the ball over on the ensuing possession and with 10 seconds left, Ashley Hirons hit a deep three to put Calgary up five points. Another three for Manitoba came too late and the game clock expired with the Dinos ahead by two.
The Bisons hit the road next weekend with a pair of games in B.C. They will start with a game on Friday, Nov. 22 against the Victoria Vikes at 6 p.m. local time. Meanwhile, the Dinos will return to Calgary next weekend and will start their slate by hosting Thompson Rivers on Friday, Nov. 22.
