(By University of Regina Sports Information)

REGINA – The University of Regina's women's basketball team emerged victorious in a battle of teams riding 10-game winning streaks as the Cougars took a 70-59 win over Winnipeg on Friday night at the Centre for Kinesiology, Health & Sport.

Charlotte Kot (pictured) and Kyanna Giles again led the way for Regina, with Kot scoring 20 points and grabbing eight rebounds and Giles finishing with 18 points.

Winnipeg's Antoinette Miller came into the game averaging in excess of 26 points per game and though she was held to nine points in the first three quarters, the fifth-year guard exploded for nine in the final period alone to finish with a team-leading 18 points for the Wesmen.

It looked early as if the No. 2-ranked Cougars might run away with this one after Regina opened up a 23-7 lead in the first quarter and took an 18-point lead into halftime. The Cougars led by as many as 24 points during the second half, but Winnipeg scored 10 of the game's final 12 points to bring Regina's eventual margin of victory down to 11.

"I thought we had a good defensive effort tonight until the fourth quarter," Cougars head coach Dave Taylor said. "We struggled a bit offensively, and credit Winnipeg's game plan for that. This was the game I was a little more confident about, but anyone who's watched us this year is well aware that we haven't always played our best on Saturdays. We hope to change that this weekend."

The win improves Regina's record to 16-1 on the season as the Cougars push their winning streak to 11 games and continue to hold the top spot in the Canada West standings. Winnipeg falls to 12-5 with the loss.

Besides the big games from Kot and Giles, the Cougars also had an 11-point, eight-rebound performance by third-year guard Michaela Kleisinger. Fifth-year guard Sara Hubenig only scored two points, but chipped in with seven rebounds and six assists while being charged with the unenviable task of guarding Miller.

Besides scoring 18 points, Miller also had nine rebounds to fall just short of a double-double and also led all players with four steals. Robyn Boulanger hit three-pointers at the end of both the first quarter and the second quarter and finished with 12 points, all of which came on her game-high four triples. Faith Hezekiah added eight points and eight rebounds in the loss.

The two teams will meet again on Saturday night (6:00) at the CKHS.

NOTES: Kyia Giles got her first career start for the Cougars and finished with eight points, four rebounds, and three steals.