EDMONTON — Despite a stat-stuffing performance from fifth year Claire Harvey, the Bison women couldn't stop their losing streak Friday, losing 87-67 to the Alberta Pandas at Saville Community Sports Centre.

Harvey had 18 points, ten rebounds, six steals, and a block for Manitoba, but the team's offence as a whole wasn't able to compete with the Pandas. Vanessa Wild led Alberta with 24 points.

The loss is the sixth straight for the Bison women, who fall to 5-6 on the season. The Pandas improve to 9-2.

"The first half of the season we really had to depend on making our shots and when you struggle and go 1-for-10 in the first half, our flow isn't there and we question things. We have to grind things out and continue to work hard," said Bisons head coach Michele Sung.

"We have to look at this as one game at a time. We learned a valuable lesson last year in the playoffs that it becomes a one-game season real quickly and we have to play with that mentality in the second half of the season."

Also chipping in for Alberta were Emma Kary with 19 points, seven rebounds and two assists, and Jenna Harpe with 11 points. In total, ten players found the scoresheet for Alberta in the win.

Right from the opening tip, Alberta was on a mission. They jumped out to a commanding 10-2 lead and after another steal from Wild and an easy layup, the Pandas led 21-7.

After the offensive outburst in the opening quarter, Alberta started to lock it down defensively and while Manitoba did a good job rebounding. They really forced the Bisons into making some tough shots.

Not only were the Pandas making it difficult on the Bisons shooting fortunes, it was just an outright tough shooting night for Manitoba.

The usually dependable Taylor Randall was 3-for-8 from the field and held to just eight points, and Nicole Konieczny was 2-for-11 from the field and limited to eight points, too.

Overall, Manitoba shot 34.7% from the field and just 15.8% (3-of-19) from beyond the arc.

"I just thought we didn't believe when we shot the ball. I think when we shot the ball tonight we don't miss 10 open lay ups, and I felt we didn't have the confidence it was going to go in, and that's so tough at this level when you don't have the belief," said Sung.

One of Manitoba's biggest strength is their rebounding and Alberta went toe-to-toe against the Bisons all night long. Offensively, Alberta was rolling and they out rebounded Manitoba 49-39, including 33-21 on the defensive glass.

The two teams meet again tomorrow evening at 6 PM CT.