By: Matt Packwood, Brandon University Athletics

BRANDON – A fast start and strong finished paced the Winnipeg Wesmen to an 86-61 win over the host Bobcats Friday night.

Riding an impressive six-game winning streak, the Wesmen showed no rust from the holiday break, storming to a 27-2 lead in the first quarter.

The Bobcats showed some resiliency in the second half but it was too little too late.

Winnipeg shot the lights out early while the friendly confines of home weren't so friendly for the Bobcats. Brandon shot 7-for-30 from the floor in the first half to the Wesmen's 19-for-37.

"I just don't think we were ready to play," says Bobcats coach Novell Thomas. "The intensity that you need to have to start the game wasn't there. We were doing things kind of 50 per cent instead of committing to the action. They felt good shooting the ball early and they just ran with that energy."

It wasn't just the offensive end the Bobcats were beat either, as Winnipeg out-rebounded the host team 58-33.

Reigning Canada West MVP Antoinette Miller had another stellar night, recording her first triple-double. The Phoenix, Ariz. product finished with 25 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists.  The fifth-year guard set the pace early as she hit her first two attempts from downtown, before finishing at 50 per cent from beyond the arc (4-for-8).

Skylar Boulanger finished with a career-high 27 points to go with 14 rebounds while Faith Hezekiah had eight points and 11 boards.

Keisha Cox had a team-high 19 points for the Bobcats while Mikaela Stanton chipped in 10 points.

The win is Winnipeg's seventh in a row and moves the Wesmen to 9-4. Brandon falls to 2-9 in conference play.

The two teams meet again Saturday night in Winnipeg to conclude the home-and-home series. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m. CT at the University of Winnipeg Duckworth Centre.

Photo courtesy Matt Packwood