WINNIPEG - A fast start lifted the University of Winnipeg Wesmen to a convincing 72-53 women's basketball victory over the University of Manitoba Bisons on Friday, January 30 night in the basketball portion of the 24th Annual Duckworth Challenge.

Winnipeg with the win improves to 9-6. Manitoba with the loss drops to 1-16 for 2014-15 conference season.

Fifth year guard Stephanie Kleysen led the Wesmen with 24 points and six rebounds. Third year guard Megan Noonan added 17 points, including five-three pointers. Second year guard Samantha Donald finished with 13. 

Robyn Eyer led Manitoba with 14 points, including four-three pointers. Vanessa DeVries finished with 10. Melanie Edel pulled down a game high eight rebounds. 

Stephanie Kleysen (Winnipeg) and Robyn Eyer (Manitoba) were selected as the Duckworth Challenge Players of the Game. 

Winnipeg got the fast start they were looking for, racing out to a 23-10 lead after the opening quarter. Kleysen was on fire scoring 10 points in the opening quarter. 

In the second quarter Noonan came alive draining back to-back three pointers the pace the Wesmen to a 41-23 lead at the halftime break. 

Winnipeg kept the pressure on the Manitoba squad in the third quarter and maintained their double digit lead. The Wesmen headed into the fourth quarter with a 56-39 lead.

The fourth quarter was a carbon copy of the third quarter with the Wesmen pushing their lead to as much as 22 late before settling for a 72-53 victory. 

The two teams will wrap up their home and home series tomorrow night (Sat., Jan. 31). Game time at the University of Manitoba held at the Investors Group Athletic Centre is 5 p.m. CT.