WINNIPEG – The Regina Cougars survived a wild fourth quarter, completing a weekend sweep of the Manitoba Bisons with a 67-65 win on Saturday evening at Investors Group Athletic Centre.
The win improves Regina's record to 8-8 while Manitoba fell to 7-9.
Forward Alexi Rowden was dominant inside for the Cougars, finishing with 18 rebounds and 17 points, while Manitoba was led by guard Keziah Brothers' 22 points.
Manitoba's defence was on point in the first period, recording four steals while holding Regina to only eight points.
Guards Taylor Randall and Brothers were active on both ends of the court, combining for 13 points while limiting Michaela Kleisinger and Faith Reid — who combined for 43 points yesterday for Regina — to just six total.
An inspired performance on the glass from Rowden kept her team in the contest, as she had four rebounds.
Manitoba opened up a 20-8 lead to start the second period on the strength of four assists from Randall, however the Cougars battled back to tie the game at 29 entering halftime.
Free throws and rebounding played a key factor in Regina's comeback. They attempted 15 shots from the charity stripe, cashing in on ten while grabbing 17 boards.
With Kleisinger on the bench for a decent amount of the quarter due to foul trouble, Rowden continued to step up. She recorded five of her nine first half points on free throws and also led all players with ten rebounds.
Manitoba's offence got a number of good looks, however the shots simply weren't falling. Brothers was the hot hand, leading all players with 12 points on six-of-seven shooting from the field while forward Addison Martin had six rebounds.
Manitoba was unable to record a field goal for the final three-and-a-half minutes of the second period, and their shooting slump continued in the third as their first basket didn't occur until the midway mark.
"As individual players, you kind of see certain players that are getting shots that they practice and are in rhythm. They're good shots and we want them to take them," Bisons head coach Michele Sung said postgame.
"You kind of just go through those ebbs of are you tired, or are you just not shooting the ball well today? I think it's just playing around with that mentality. At the end of the day, shooters shoot. I say that to every kid that I work with. I think it's just about instilling that belief, but also that the players put the work in that they need to to get out of that slump."
Regina on the other hand, continued to do work with Rowden and fellow big Macaela Crone inside. The latter also had a trey and recorded seven points in the frame as the Cougars led by as much as nine.
The combination of Brothers and Martin got to work inside in the final two minutes of play, however. The pair combined for ten points and three boards as Regina's lead was cut to 45-41 entering the fourth.
There were four lead changes in a fast-paced final period.
Reid and Bisons guard Lauren Bartlett both made key plays in transition, with the former nailing a huge three to give Manitoba a 62-61 lead with 1:10 left after a Martin rebound.
Reid gave her team back the lead right after however, hitting both free throws with a minute left.
Regina then forced a turnover and got a massive board from Rowden after Avery Pearce missed her second free throw. Rowden proceeded to nail both shots to give her side a 66-62 lead.
A Brothers trey pulled the Cougars lead back to one with four seconds left, and Manitoba got the ball back with two seconds left down by two but couldn't cash in.
Next up for Manitoba is a road tilt against Victoria while the Cougars will host UNBC.
