Box Score WINNIPEG - The Bison women's basketball team lost their second straight to the #3 University of Regina Cougars by a 87-42 score at Investors Group Athletic Centre on Saturday, January 30.
 
With the win, the Cougars are now 13-1 and extend their win streak to eight games, while the Bisons fall to 1-15.
 
Regina's Charlotte Kot led both teams with 20 points, while Manitoba rookie Alyssa Lucier had 11 in the losing effort.
 
"We didn't shoot the ball well," Bison head coach Michele Hynes said after the game. "I thought we got some good shots in the first quarter, but we couldn't continue."
 
Tight defense from both sides kept the first quarter close. Neither team made it on the board for almost two minutes, until the Cougars opened the scoring with a layup from Kot. The Bisons quickly sunk a jump shot of their own and never let the Cougars gain more than a four-point lead for the rest of the quarter. Lucier added a jump shot and a free throw before Regina's Kehlsie Crone sunk a pair of free throws to give the Cougars a 14-11 lead after one.  
 
But the close game didn't last long. An offensive burst from Regina early in the second gave the Cougars a 26-13 lead, and the Bisons couldn't catch up. Manitoba only scored eight points in the quarter (four of which came on free throws), while Regina's Katie Polischuk and Alyssia Kajati each put up six of their own. By the end of the half, the Cougars more than doubled the Bisons and led 46-19.
 
Regina held the Bisons scoreless for most of the third, while the Cougars continued to build their lead. Manitoba scored their first of the half over five minutes in, when Montana Kinzel sunk a jump shot. Jenilyn Monton added a three-point jump shot and Lucier put up three free throws later in the quarter, but they couldn't catch the Cougars. Regina led 62-27 at the end of the third.
 
Manitoba put up stronger offense in the fourth, but they couldn't catch the dominant Cougars The Bisons tallied 15 points, including four from bench players Emma Thompson and Tiara Licsi, for their highest-scoring quarter in the game. Atoosa Jalayeri added a pair of free throws for the Bisons in the final seconds of the game, but Regina took the match 87-42.
 
"We need to work on decision making," Hynes said. "We have a good first to take away, and we had some players come out and give a good showing in the fourth."
 
She said she plans to work on the Bisons' zone defense for when they take on the University of Winnipeg Wesmen at the 25^th annual Duckworth Challenge starting at 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 5 at Investors Group Athletic Centre. 
 
The Cougars will host the University of Victoria Vikes next weekend, starting on Friday at 6 p.m.
 
Scoring
Manitoba: 11-8-8-15=42
Regina: 14-32-16-25=87
  
Scoring leaders
Manitoba: Alyssa Lucier (11), two players (8) and Nicole Konieczny (5)
Regina: Charlotte Kot (20), Christina McCusker (11) and three players (10)
 
Assist leaders
Manitoba: Jenilyn Monton (2), Alyssa Lucier (2) and Rebecca Potter (1)
Regina: Michaela Kleisinger (8), Katie Polischuk (4) and two players (3)
 
Rebound leaders
Manitoba: Jenilyn Monton (5), Rebecca Potter (5) and Nicole Konieczny (4)
Regina: Alyssia Kajati (10), Charlotte Kot (7) and Christina McCusker (5)