WINNIPEG – A career night from Ella Averill wasn't enough to stop the Manitoba Bisons on Saturday night at IGAC, as the Herd topped the Brandon Bobcats 93-77 on senior's night to complete a weekend sweep.
The Herd finished the regular season 8-12 and will head to the Canada West playoffs as the No. 11 seed. They will face 16-4 Calgary in a play-in game next weekend. Brandon finishes as the No. 12 seed and will face UBCO.
Averill tied her career high with 29 points, and added a personal best 14 rebounds, however it was the diverse attack of the Bisons that told the story.
The hosts had 24 assists compared to seven for Brandon, with five different players tallying at least three, led by
Anna Miko who had a career-high eight along with 18 points and five rebounds.
Taylor Schepp led the Bisons with 19 points along with four assists.
Manitoba started off the game with a 14-9 lead with an important part of that coming from the rebound department as they grabbed eight rebounds in the first four minutes. The Bisons continued to hold their lead midway through leading 21-11 after a big time three from
Darya Rom.
Miko had four dimes during Manitoba's ten-point lead, while
Mar Tomas Arbos – one of two graduating seniors along with
Treyah Paquette (six points) – added two assists.
Brandon responded by cutting the lead back down to four after two big time plays from point guard Piper Ingalls. She hit a big and one to give Brandon momentum, and the next series she drained a three to cut down the Bisons lead to four to end the quarter.
Manitoba regained momentum at the start of the second quarter, going on a 10-4 run bringing their lead back to a comfortable spot. Brandon responded defensively, forcing nine steals in the first half with a full court press, three of which came from Macaya Copeland. But Manitoba once again answered.
With three minutes left,
Taylor Schepp went on a 5-0 run, aided by great ball movement. The Bisons ended the quarter going on a 11-3 run, and led by nine at the half, with Schepp pouring in 11 points.
Brandon cut Manitoba's lead to as little as five in the third, thanks in large part to Averill. The Australia native was strong inside, taking contact and finishing at the rim, while hitting a step back floater as well. She entered the fourth with a game-high 25 points.
But every Bobcats push was answered by the Herd, who led 74-60 after three.
Ayvha Khan went on a 5-0 run midway through the quarter including a deep three following a Miko pass, while Miko – who led all Bisons with 16 points entering the fourth – hit multiple contested shots, including one with two Bobcats draped all over her.
Brandon cut Manitoba's lead to as little as four in the fourth at 74-70, but once again the hosts responded with stellar ball movement. Rom, Schepp and Miko all recorded assists as the Bisons went on a 13-5 run over a span of three minutes to help close out the game.
