Box Score Written by: John Gaudes
WINNIPEG - Despite a solid effort on the defensive end, the Manitoba Bisons women's basketball team were unable to topple Canada West's top team, the #3-ranked Alberta Pandas, on Friday, February 7 at Investors Group Athletic Centre.
Manitoba lost 73-54 and fall to 4-15 on the season. The Pandas win their 16th straight and move to 17-2.
"Defense was okay, but it was the same story where we can't get stops when we need them or put two back-to-back stops together which would be good," said Bisons co-head coach
Michele Hynes.
Alberta was led by 14 points from Saskia Van Ginhoven, but they also got a great game off the bench from Kendra Asleson, who put in 13 points and grabbed nine rebounds in an assertive performance.
Manitoba was led by Sheree Carmona-Galdamez, Allison Balasko and Claire Harvery - all had ten points each. Balasko had 12 rebounds for the double-double, while first-year Harvery's 20 minutes came in key times when the Bisons were threatening.
"[Claire's] progressing really well, she's attacking and being assertive - that's what we want her to do. She's playing fearless and that's working to her advantage," said Hynes.
Manitoba's defensive intensity was apparent off the tap, but early on they had a tough time containing VanGinhoven - she scored eight of her team's first 12 points as they jumped out to a seven-point first quarter lead.
In the second, it was Megan Vande Kraats who did damage, spreading the floor with her shooting touch and putting the Pandas up 12. Manitoba had the last gasp of the first half, though, as a 6-0 run keyed by two
Claire Harvery layups cut the lead to six at the break.
The Pandas responded in the third on the back of Asleson, who was unstoppable inside, going for nine points and three boards in the quarter as Alberta was able to stretch their lead to 14 by the end of three and make the fourth a formality.
The Bisons women's basketball team finish their weekend back-to-back against Alberta on Saturday night, tipping off at 5 p.m. CST.
