WINNIPEG – A firm defensive performance helped the Winnipeg Wesmen (3-4) to a 73-56 victory over the Manitoba Bisons (2-3) on Thursday night at Investors Group Athletic Centre.
The victory also tied the annual Duckworth Challenge between the two teams at one, as the Bisons won the soccer portion.
The visitor's ability to minimize Manitoba's leading scorer Taylor Randall was key, as she entered the contest averaging just under 20 points per game, but was held to just seven against Winnipeg.
Robyn Boulanger led the offensive charge for Winnipeg with 21 points, while Emma Thompson paced Manitoba with 12.
"[Boulanger] she's a great player," Bisons head coach Michele Sung said postgame.
"With Faith [Hezekiah] hurt we kind of knew she was going to step up. She has great vision, so we kind of knew that was where productivity was going to come from."
The Wesmen went into a zone defence towards the end of the first quarter and it paid off, as they entered the second up 17-11 after going on a 6-0 run late. Forward Deborah Nkiasi played a major role, tallying two steals.
Winnipeg opened their lead up to as much as 12, getting into the bonus early on in the second quarter and converting on 12 first half free throws.
Nkiasi was big in transition and had a game-high nine points at halftime. As a team, the Wesmen tallied 13 points off of turnovers, ten of which came on fast breaks. Boulanger added seven points, including a three ball.
Manitoba's pressure defence was just as strong however, as they closed the gap to 35-28 at halftime. Rookie Lauren Bartlett was the catalyst on both ends of the floor with an assist, a blocked shot and four points. Veteran forward Addison Martin added a team-high seven points as the Bisons' most effective inside presence.
Thompson took advantage of Winnipeg's 2-3 zone in the third period, cashing in from beyond the arc twice.
But Winnipeg matched with a versatile showing offensively. Forward Jillian Duncan was a menace inside, scoring her team's first six points while Boulanger hit two threes of her own and had eight points in the quarter as the visitors led 57-43 entering the fourth.
Manitoba had a few chances to close the gap in the fourth quarter, but were unable to hit on open looks as the Wesmen closed out a 17-point victory.
The two teams will meet again on Saturday at 1 p.m. at the U of W.
