Box Score Winnipeg, MB – The University of Manitoba Bisons opened the second half of the season with a tough women's basketball match against the University of Victoria Vikes at Investors Group Athletic Centre on Friday, January 9. Despite a close first half, the home team was unable to keep up with the visitor's offensive pressure as they fell 72-57.
 
The opening quarter saw the Bisons take an early lead following a three-pointer by their guard, Jenilyn Monton, making the score 12-4 midway through the first. The Vikes fought their way back with their own three-pointers and ended up finishing the first tied up at 18. Both teams capitalized on the opposing zone defence to come away with four threes at the end of the first.
 
The rest of the first half was back and forth with a more aggressive showing at the boards from both teams. Vikes' forward, Jessica Renfrew, led the game with 16 points and three rebounds at the end of the half. It was 36-32 for Victoria at the start of the third.
 
After tying the game early in the second half, the home team found themselves struggling to keep up with the constant offensive pressure from the visiting Vikes. A three-point play by Victoria forward, Jenna Bugiardini, signalled a shift in momentum at the mid-point of the third as the point-gap widened to ten for the visitors. They would head into the final quarter with a lead of 59-44.
 
Manitoba's offense tried to narrow the gap, but Victoria denied a comeback through aggressive defense that forced some turnovers and helped them maintain their lead. The Vikes outscored the home team 13-12 in the fourth, ending the game with a 72-57 victory.
 
"For the first half we were competitive. In the second half we just didn't bring that same energy into our rotation," said Bisons' Head Coach Michele Hynes.
 
Victoria's Bugiardini ended the game with a double-double of 18 points and 15 rebounds and Renfrew tied her for the most points in the game with 18. The leading scorer for the Bisons was forward Christina Posthumus with 12 points. This game brings Victoria to 4-6 for the season while the Manitoba Bisons now sit at 1-11.
 
The two teams will meet again at Investors Group Athletic Centre at 5 p.m. CT tomorrow, January 10.