WINNIPEG – The Manitoba Bisons went on numerous runs on Friday night, including a 19-5 outburst in the third quarter en route to a 95-89 win over the Brandon Bobcats at IGAC. Both teams -- who are post-season bound -- are now 7-12 in the standings.
 
Samantha Onyebuchi, Treyah Paquette, Anna Miko and Paige Schatkowsky all recorded career highs in an emphatic win for Manitoba, who were upended by the Bobcats, 86-71 way back in November at the beginning of the season.
 
Onyebuchi's 19 points, six steals and four blocks were personal bests, as were Paquette's ten rebounds and six assists, Miko's 15 rebounds (also led all Bisons with 20 points), and Schatkowsky's seven assists.
 
As a team, the Bisons were outstanding on defence, recording 12 steals, while out-rebounding the Bobcats 54-45. Four different members of the Herd tallied at least six rebounds overall, including Onyebuchi, who earned Player of the Game honours after putting up the best overall game of her career.
 
Her U SPORTS journey has been one of resilience, battling back from season-ending injuries each of the last two seasons.
 
"Sam was fun to watch. I had to sit down a couple of times, because I was going to embarrass myself, holy man," smiled Bisons head coach Michele Sung.
 
"She came in and just competed. We know we can rely on her in those scenarios. Those that have been around know how much work it's taken her to get back to this level. To see her have a game like that was really cool. She's done a really good job. I've challenged her along the way and she's always responded. She always comes in and has the same consistent attitude. In moments like this it tends to show up."
 
Brandon was led by 20 points from Ella Averill and 18 each from Macaya Copeland and Piper Ingalls.
 
Manitoba went on a 13-0 run in the game's opening four minutes, securing six offensive rebounds, which all led to second chance points. Included in the run was eight straight points from Paquette, who contributed a rebound that she put back, along with two straight threes.
 
Brandon responded from distance. The visitors had seven three-pointers at the break, after hitting eight overall the first time the two sides met.
 
Ingalls – who had 28 points in the first encounter – sunk a triple to cut Manitoba's lead to three entering the second – and Copeland, the leading scorer in Canada West, added four threes by halftime, two of which came in the final two minutes.
 
Copeland's fourth triple cut Manitoba's lead to one in the final minute of the second, but Miko – who led all players with seven rebounds and had 11 points – responded with a strong inside take to give Manitoba a 46-43 lead at halftime.
 
The Bobcats took their first lead of the game in the opening minute of the third, sinking back to back threes, courtesy of Ingalls and Amaya Mcleod, but it was all Bisons after that. The Herd went on a 19-5 surge over the next five minutes to take complete control.
 
Rebounding, pace and defensive intensity were key to Manitoba's run. Brandon missed seven of their next eight shots after taking the lead, and the Herd scooped up every board, including two from Miko, who had a double-double after just three quarters, her fourth of the season.
 
Miko went on a 7-0 run during Manitoba's 19-point eruption, along with two assists and two rebounds, as the Herd got out in transition off of Brandon's misses. Onyebuchi was also a key contributer, forcing turnovers on D that led to transition buckets. She racked up six points in the quarter after recording nine in the first half, along with five steals.
 
As a team, the Herd had 11 steals entering the fourth, scoring 20 points off 17 Brandon turnovers.
 
The Bisons continued to press in the fourth. Offensively, Taylor Schepp and Schatkowsky combined for nine points, while Miko, Onyebuchi and company continued to cause problems on defence.
 
Onyebuchi's sixth steal of the game led to a Schatkowsky transition bucket, as Manitoba maintained a double-digit lead throughout the final ten minutes. Brandon cut the lead to six late but it wasn't enough to complete the comeback.
 
Both teams play again tomorrow at 5 pm.