Box Score WINNIPEG – The Manitoba Bisons (2-12) and Mount Royal Cougars (8-6) flexed their depth on Saturday night at Investors Group Athletic Centre, as 19 different players scored in a 79-69 MRU win. 
 
The Cougars bench had 26 points, while the Bisons had 21, with the visitors getting a combined 15 from versatile forwards Megan Wellinghurst and Julia Summers. 
 
Manitoba got ten combined points from Samantha Onyebuchi and Talia Peters, as the Herd battled without starters Autumn Agar and Emerson Martin. 
 
Starter Keziah Brothers once again led Manitoba with 16 points, five boards and three steals. Mount Royal's Madison Hooper would lead her team with a double-double – dropping 21 points, 11 rebounds, two assists and four steals.
 
"I believe we had zero bench points last night, so that's something that we touched on when we came in to practice this morning," said Bisons head coach Michelle Sung. "These games have been a great opportunity to have people step up when we need them to." 
 
A collection of steals, blocks, and swarming help defence from the Bisons kept the Cougars on their toes, fighting for every possession.  
 
The Bisons would capitalize on their excellent defence with some blazing fastbreaks and by drawing fouls down low – getting to the line four times early and grabbing 11 steals heading into the half.
 
Brothers would continue to stay hot from the night before, picking up nine points early in the first while setting the tone for the rest of the team.
 
The Bisons bench also caught fire, scoring 12 points in the first, while Onyebuchi was a dog on defence, getting to the line and picking up two steals in just four minutes. 
 
The Cougars would start putting their foot on the gas as they headed into the half, giving the Bisons a hard time by using their height to get some easy drop-step buckets and give-and-go passes to the basket. 
 
Ten of the 11 active Cougars players got on the board before the half, led by Hooper who would pick up a quick nine points, five rebounds and two steals. 
 
The Cougars would get it going after a slow start, leading into the half, 41-35.
 
Both teams would come out of the half, guns blazing, and battle in another barnburner as they fought for the lead. 
 
The Bisons took a 51-50 lead in the third, thanks to energy buckets by guard Brynn Endicott and some great defence that led to a couple of steals for guard Mar Tomas Arbos that would keep them in the game.   
 
The two teams fought back and forth until the final buzzer, keeping spectators on the edge of their seats as the lead was tied two times in the fourth. 
 
The Cougars would pull away in the final moments from some great paint defence by their bigs – Tanis Metcalfe and Megan Wellinghurst, as they blocked out the sun, making it hard for the Bisons to get any shots to land when they needed them.  
 
The Bisons return next weekend to play MacEwan at home, while Mount Royal faces UNBC.