WINNIPEG – A massive second quarter helped propel the Manitoba Bisons to a 92-67 win over Brandon in both team's season openers on Thursday night at IGAC. 
 
Trailing by two after ten, the Bisons poured it on, out-scoring Brandon 25-12 in the second quarter en route to the 25-point win. Their biggest lead was 28, while the Bobcats led by four early but trailed the rest of the way. 
 
Third-year Emily Mandamin, playing in her first regular season game as a Bison after transferring from the states, put up ten of her 17 points in the second (including a team-leading three triples), while veteran Emily Johnson led all scorers with a career high 20 points. 
 
"I give all the credit to my teammates," said Mandamin. "They do a great job of pushing me in practice, sharing the rock and giving me the confidence to shoot the ball and make plays. I really got all the energy from them."
 
Brandon got a great showing from second-year Faith Clearsky, who led all Bobcats with 18 points, shooting 8-for-12 from the field, along with 50 percent from three. 
 
The Waywayseecappo native was able to slash into the lane many times, and created momentum for her side, along with fellow starters Piper Ingalls, Reeta Tulkki and rookie Mya Cameron, who combined for 31 points. 
 
But the depth of the Bisons came into play as the game went along. 
 
The Bobcats finished with 14 bench points, getting heavy contributions from their starters, while Manitoba tallied 37 bench points, led by Mandamin's 17, along with a combined 20 from rookie Anna Miko, Regina transfer Treyah Paquette and second-year Ayva Khan. 
 
Mandamin had a string of five possessions in the second half where she either caused a turnover, recorded a rebound or tallied an assist, while Autumn Agar added 15 points – the third most in a game in her Bisons career – along with a game-high five steals.
 
As a team, Manitoba tallied 21 steals, compared to eight for Brandon, getting 24 points off of turnovers. 
 
Both teams will play again tomorrow at 6 pm.