Box Score WINNIPEG - The Manitoba Bisons faced off against the Alberta Pandas Saturday evening at Investors Group Athletic Center after a tough loss the night before. Both teams brought their fast-paced defense to the hardwood, but it would be the Pandas that took control of the game early with a staggering offence to pair, winning the game 79-55 thanks to 50.8 percent shooting from the field. Manitoba shot 31.4.
The Pandas would rally behind some great full court defense with some stand out performances from captain Emily Karry, who finished the game with 18, four and one as well as Jenna Harpe who put up 14, three and three. Bisons forward
Emerson Martin would also stand out, putting up ten points and six rebounds on 40 percent three-point shooting.
"[Alberta] is a very good defensive team, and we were still able to get a lot of shots up which was good, we just have to work on the quality of them." said Bisons head coach
Michele Sung when asked about the loss.
The first quarter started off with both teams pushing a methodical pace, with Alberta taking a small lead early with some great help defense that led to some easy layups on the other end. The quick transition buckets would lead to Alberta taking a 12-2 lead halfway through the first.
The Bisons would keep fighting, using some great ball movement that opened up the floor for some great looks in the top of the key and some tough baskets under the rim. Alberta's swarming defense behind half court and double teams would stifle the Bisons momentum, even after some great defensive plays by electric forward Autum Agar and two transition threes for Martin, who finished the quarter perfect from three-point land with six points.
The intense Alberta defense would continue the moment the second quarter started, getting a couple of early stops behind half, and tangling up the Bisons anytime they drove to the paint. Alberta started racking up the score, making it 30-14 halfway through the second behind an impressive performane by Alberta captain Emma Kary as she finished the half with 14 points and three rebounds.
The Bisons were not giving in despite being behind. Their patented break-neck defense was on full display, as they would bombard Alberta each time they entered the paint, forcing them to take some low percentage layups. This defense created some great transition offence for the Bisons, making way for some corner bombs by Mar Tomas Arbos and
Lauryn Manaigre, and some powerful layups in the restricted zone by Autum Agar and Brynn Endicott.
Manitoba began to get going as they gained some momentum going into the half, with Alberta leading by ten points, 38-28.
Alberta would continue to push the pace starting out the third, with their full court defense really causing problems for the Bisons early, making it a 50-36 ball game for Alberta halfway through the third.
On top of Alberta's defensive intensity, they started to really heat up from three, letting it fly whenever given the opportunity, especially off of some great steals in the mid court. Alberta would make the Bisons pay with their great defense and shooting ability, holding the Herd to only 11 points in the quarter while also shooting 37 percent from three. Alberta would make the score 62-39 going into the fourth.
The fourth started off with another bomb by Albertas Emma Karry which was quickly matched by a quick pull-up from Bisons captain
Lauren Bartlett who had seven points, three assists and a rebound halfway through the fourth.
Alberta continued to get to their spots however and would continue to bring the heat to the Bisons in the half court. Continuing to swarm and overwhelm them leading to some quick buckets and defensive stops.
The Bisons never lost hope however, still playing some great defense around the paint and getting some big layups when they needed them the most.
Albertas defense and shooting was just too much for the Bisons, with Alberta winning the game 79-55.
Both teams are back in action next weekend.
