WINNIPEG – A dominant second quarter from the Manitoba Bisons helped propel the hosts past the MacEwan Griffins 75-48 on Saturday night at IGAC. The win improved Manitoba's record to 5-11, while GMU remained winless on the year.
A four-point Manitoba lead was broken wide open in quarter two, as the Bisons held MacEwan off the score board for the first four minutes, out-scoring their opposition 18-6 overall.
Manitoba was lights out in their zone defence, recording multiple steals in their second quarter run, and 13 in the game overall.
Paige Schatkowsky,
Anna Miko and
Taylor Schepp helped lead the charge on D, turning a variety of turnovers into easy buckets in transition.
The trio combined for 31 points in the game, while Miko – who had a double-double for the third game in a row with 12 points and ten rebounds – and Schepp added six steals.
Samantha Onyebuchi also contributed four steals and had 13 points.
MacEwan was led by Samantha Hickey, with 13 points and five blocks.
"We tried to strategically be a little more composed regardless of outcome, especially in the first. We tried to stay patient with it. I thought they did a really good job doing that, and were able to attack the game plan in the second quarter," said Bisons head coach
Michele Sung.
"With adjustments from this morning, we tried to get them to play through gaps a little bit more, and to see the ball side and the weak side. I was happy that they made that adjustment. We got timely steals from multiple people too, which helped."
The Griffins got the opening bucket of the game, but didn't lead the rest of the way.
Ayva Khan drained back-to-back threes on Manitoba's first two possessions and it was clear sailing afterwards. The hosts led 34-18 at the break, with ten different players getting on the score sheet overall.
MacEwan displayed grit on defence, recording 14 points off turnovers, and they had seven blocks and ten steals. Sarah Burnell and Hickey both had notable denials in the second quarter, as the visitors clogged the paint throughout the contest, but a 27 percent shooting efficiency and 29 turnovers cost them as the game progressed.
Manitoba plays Winnipeg in the annual Duckworth Challenge next week. Tickets available at GOBISONS.ca
