After two wins to finish their regular season, Manitoba Bisons women's basketball (4-12) will take on the UBC Thunderbirds (6-12) in their opening Canada West playoff game.
Hosted by the University of Calgary, Manitoba and UBC will play at 4 p.m. CDT on Friday, March 4. Fans can watch on
Canada West TV presented by Co-op.
The No. 12 seed Bisons and No. 15 seed Thunderbirds tip off in the new Canada West basketball playoff format, where 17 teams will be whittled down to four in survive-and-advance games hosted by Calgary and Mount Royal this weekend. After a pandemic-impacted schedule in 2021-22, the Bisons and Thunderbirds will play each other for the first time since November 2018.
Beating the Brandon Bobcats in back-to-back games on Feb. 11-12, the Bisons women showed a blueprint for success in the post-season — the three-point shot and active hands on defence.
In their four wins this season, the Bisons have hit 36.2% from deep, compared to just 27.8% in their losses. The Herd are second in the conference in three-pointers made per game (7.9) and third in attempts (26.4).
Manitoba also has the Canada West leader in steals in second-year point guard
Lauren Bartlett, who has 52 in 16 games. As a team, the Bisons are eighth in steals per game with 11.1.
Bartlett has emerged as a stat-stuffer after a CW All-Rookie selection in 2019-20. Averaging 9.2 points, 5.1 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 3.4 steals per game, Bartlett's all-around play has been important for Manitoba all season.
The winner of Manitoba-UBC will advance to face No. 5 seed Lethbridge at 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 5. The four remaining teams after this weekend will compete in the Canada West Final Four on March 18 and 19.
HOOFPRINTS
- Bisons fifth-year guard Taylor Randall surpassed 1,400 career points this season… highest-scoring Bison since the program joined Canada West in 2000… averaging 11.9 points this season
- Bisons first-year forward Lovisa Fjellner had a strong finish to the regular season with 18 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists vs. BDN (Feb. 18)
Conference Statistics
U SPORTS Top 10
