CALGARY, Alta. – The Mount Royal Cougars and Winnipeg Wesmen faced off Saturday afternoon at Kenyon Court to cap off the opening weekend for both teams.
The Wesmen were able to build on their opening night victory with another win to start the season off on the right foot.
The Wesmen came away with a 76-57-win, led by Antoinette Miller who finished with an incredible 36 points and 14 rebounds. It was the second straight outstanding night for Miller who started out the season with 57 points in two games.
The Cougars were lead offensively by Becky Nash who finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds for a double-double. Another tough shooting night for the Cougars, who only managed to shoot 31.5 percent from the field and 5 percent from three.
Faith Hezekiah and Miller picked up right where they left off on Friday night, coming out with 10 quick points for the Wesmen, giving them an early eight-point lead. The Cougars crashed the offensive glass to give them extra chances and keep the game close. The Cougars went on a 6-0 run at the end of the quarter to cut down the Wesmen lead. The Wesmen took a 19-12 lead at the end of the quarter after a last second and-one by Paige Davies.
The Wesmen were once again lead by Miller to start the second, who scored the first five points of the quarter. But the Cougars were able to respond by continuing their attack for offensive rebounds and working the ball to Nash. As the quarter progressed nothing the Cougars could throw at Miller worked as she ended the half with 23 points. The Cougars managed to recover, led by the strong play of Michelle Tiffany and Nash, keeping the game within reach. At the end of the first 20 minutes the Wesmen lead was 38-28.
The third quarter started with both teams trading baskets, with neither team being able to take control of the quarter. The Cougars were able to get the Wesmen into foul trouble midway through the quarter using this to their advantage and work the Wesmen lead down to six with two and a half minutes remaining in the quarter. The Wesmen kept on pressing the Cougars and trying to build their lead. Despite Maria Blanco's seven straight points in the last two minutes, the Wesmen took a 57-49 lead into the fourth quarter.
The Wesmen started the fourth on a 7-0 run highlighted by Jessica Dyck's hot shooting. The Wesmen look to slow the game down and run out the clock to conserve their lead. The Cougars were able to find open looks against the Wesmen defense but failed to convert, as the Wesmen lead grew to 15. Looking to pressure the Wesmen and get back into the game, the Cougars started to double Miller whenever she touched the ball. The Cougars defense was able to slow the Wesmen attack, but not enough to get themselves back into the game. When the buzzer sounded the Wesmen were able to sweep opening series of the year.
Both teams start new a new series on November third, as the Cougars will hit the road to visit the University of Fraser Valley Cascades and the Wesmen will return home to host the University of Alberta Pandas.