WINNIPEG – In another cross-town instant classic, the Manitoba Bisons and Winnipeg Wesmen battled to the final bucket, with the hosts coming out on top 73-31 in a critical battle for playoff positioning on Friday at IGAC.
 
The game was tied six different times, including going into the fourth, and featured 23 steals, and 93 rebounds in a balanced affair. Manitoba went on a 7-0 run to open the final frame, but the Wesmen closed the deficit, going on a 6-0 run of their own to cut the lead to two with 20 seconds left.
 
The visitors held Manitoba off the score board on their final possession, getting the ball back with two seconds to go, but the clock ran out before they were able to get a shot off.
 
The win improved Manitoba's record to 2-8 entering the winter break, while Winnipeg fell to 2-8.
 
Nine different Bisons scored in the win in a collective effort on both ends. Anna Miko led the way with 15 points, while tying her career high with five steals, along with six rebounds and five assists.
 
Treyah Paquette added a career high 12 points in 17 minutes off the bench, while Ayva Khan finished two points off a career high with 15 along with a team-leading seven rebounds.
 
Winnipeg was led by 19 points from Jazmin Birch, along with 15 from Raia Guinto and ten from Jennifer Edwards.

"It feels good," said Miko. "A rivarly win is always sweeter, especially at home. We worked really hard all week. It felt really good to get the win today. The motivation from teammates and coaches, they instilled a lot of confidence in me. Getting to the top of the zone was important, and applying ball pressure early was really key for us."
 
The Wesmen opened the game on a 7-2 run and led 12-5 later on thanks to two-for-three shooting from distance. Leading scorer Guinto – entering play with 18 triples – cashed from three as did Jennifer Edwards.
 
Manitoba responded with their defence. They forced eight turnovers, recorded four steals and scored eight points off those turnovers, going on an 18-10 run over seven minutes to take the lead going into the second.
 
Paquette scored five points within a minute to help Manitoba take their first lead at 18-14, while Taylor Schepp and Khan both had steals that led to key points in transition.
 
The Bisons kept the pressure going in quarter two. Miko had a block and two steals, both of which led to points in transition, while a Paige Schatkowsky steal led to a Khan three as Manitoba went on a 11-0 run over three minutes to take a 33-21 lead.
 
But Winnipeg answered, playing hard on the glass while forcing five steals in the final minutes.
 
Guinto helped lead her side in transition, entering the break with nine points and a steal, while Sarah Boitson and Carmen Hiebert combined for ten rebounds entering the break.
 
Mattea Teece also sprinted under the bucket for a rebound and put back as Winnipeg went on an 8-0 run of their own. Entering the break, the Bisons led by five, 44-39.
 
Both sides flashed highlight-reel plays in quarter three, going back-and-forth in a contest that was tied 55-55 entering the last ten minutes.
 
Miko – who led all Bisons with 12 points after 30 minutes – started the quarter on fire, fighting past three Wesmen for a strong inside take following a Khan rebound and assist. On the next possession, she found Kyu Fust in transition on a no-look pass with her teammate sprinting from the other end for the layup. Overall, Manitoba had 18 assists in the game. 

"As a team, with our assists, we talked about looking for the great shot, not just the good shot," added Miko. "I think a lot of those came from kick outs and paint touches and whatnot."
 
Winnipeg responded with some notable hustle plays of their own. True freshman Jennifer Edwards helped level the game, grabbing a rebound and going coast-to-coast for a bucket. She crossed over a defender in the half court as part of the finish, entering the fourth with eight points and four rebounds.
 
Jasia Hayden also got on the board with a three for Winnipeg midway through the quarter, becoming the 17th different player to record a bucket in the contest.
 
Paquette set a career high with 15 points on a triple early in the fourth, and Schatkowsky went on a mini four-point run of her own including a fadeaway two as Manitoba opened the fourth on a 7-0 run.
 
Winnipeg responded, with a Jennifer Kallon steal and layup narrowing Manitoba's lead to two in the final 30 seconds, part of a late 6-0 run for the Wesmen, but they ran out of time as Manitoba entered the winter break with momentum.