WINNIPEG – Anna Miko recorded the fourth double-double of her Bisons career, putting up 28 points, along with 14 rebounds in an 81-72 Manitoba win over MacEwan on Friday at IGAC. The win improved Manitoba's record to 4-11 while GMU remained winless. Toni Gordon put up a career-high 21 points in the loss.
 
It's the second game in row with a double-double for Miko, and her third game in row putting up over 20 points in a contest. Her 14 rebounds also tied her career high.

True freshman Taylor Schepp added a career-high 22 points, along with four assists. She and Miko connected early and often, including the fourth, where the Herd broke open a three-point game thanks to a ten-point run from Miko, with multiple assists from her point guard.
 
"[Miko] has been super locked into the game plans that we've been installing from week to week. That's really helped. Our games at Christmas and playing a really solid Windsor team helped a ton. I think it put into perspective how hard it is to be good in our league, and it takes a lot of effort week in and week out," said Bisons heach coach Michele Sung.
 
"I'm happy that [Miko] seems settled into what that grind is. Once she gets into a flow, she's pretty good."
 
The Griffins opened the game shooting above 40 percent, opening up at 12-4 lead four minutes in, thanks to back-to-back treys from Ali Spenrath and Paige Massier. But Manitoba responded courtesy of Miko.
 
The veteran forward made each of her last three shots of the quarter, including a four-point run as the Herd cut into GMU's lead entering the second, at 20-19. Overall, Manitoba shot 47 percent in the first.
 
Both teams battled to break the opposition's zone defence in quarter two, in a physical duel with the visitors up 42-41. MacEwan got to the line nine times, with Gordon pacing her side on offence.
 
The veteran Griffin had a career-high 17 points at halftime, including seven made free throws. Her most impressive take came on a spin move, as she converted while being taken down, and cashed on the free throw.
 
Paige Schatkowsky was just as notable for the Herd. She showcased her strength on many occasions, getting solid positioning in the paint, finishing with eight points in the quarter, including a baseline drive where she out-muscled a defender down low.
 
Dynamic scorers Schepp and Unity Obasuyi traded buckets in the third, as both teams went on runs.
 
The Herd opened the third on an 8-0 run, including a Schepp steal and bucket, and she closed the quarter with a strong take off glass to give Manitoba a 62-59 lead entering the fourth.
 
Obasuyi – GMU's leading scorer on the year – added six points for her side, including an and-one finish where she cut into the paint and nailed a bucket despite contact, entering the fourth with 13 points. Obasuyi added two impressive assists, fitting the ball through a tight Manitoba zone during a 6-2 GMU run on the other end.
 
Miko came up big again in the fourth for the hosts, scoring ten points in a row for her side, as the hosts opened up an eight-point lead three minutes in and didn't trail the rest of the way.
 
Miko and Schepp were on the same page throughout, as the rookie point guard facilitated multiple no-look passes to her cutting teammate, who was unstoppable under the bucket. Two of her inside layups included and-one finishes, of which she made both.
 
"We stayed resilient. They shot the ball extremely well," added Sung.
 
"This might have been their best shooting game in a couple of years. We could have gotten down, but we stayed resilient on some defensive adjustments and stayed in the game and didn't think too far ahead."
 
Both teams play again tomorrow at 5 pm.