The Bisons women’s basketball team narrowly defeated the Winnipeg Wesmen with a thrilling 77-74 victory, in an electrifying rivalry game on Jan. 31 at the Investors Group Athletic Centre.  This matchup was not only a test of skill but also of will, as both teams fought valiantly through every quarter.

In the first quarter of the game the Bisons took a commanding lead by outscoring the Wesmen 23-19. This early advantage was crucial in setting the tone for the match. The Bisons’ strong start can be attributed to a balanced attack and solid shooting performance, particularly from Darya Rom, who scored seven points, including a three-pointer. Meanwhile, the Wesmen struggled to find their rhythm, with their players missing several shots. The quarter ended with the Bisons establishing a four-point lead, setting up a competitive atmosphere for the remainder of the game.

The Bisons managed to extend their lead, outscoring Wesmen by seven points to finish the half with a 43-36 lead. This quarter was defined by the Bisons’ continued effective shooting and defence.

Rom and Anna Miko were instrumental for the Bisons. Rom contributed four points while Miko led with eight points, utilizing her time on the court efficiently to drive the Bisons offence. Wesmen struggled with their shooting accuracy, which reflected in their game. The standout for the Wesmen during this quarter was Sadie McMillan-Stowards, but the team as a whole could not match the Bisons’ scoring pace. The quarter concluded with the Bisons solidifying their lead, setting a challenging pace for the Wesmen to catch up in the second half.

The game’s intensity remained high, but the Bisons again outscored the Wesmen by a narrow margin in the third quarter, extending their lead further. The Bisons scored 20 points in the quarter compared to the Wesmen’s 21, leading to a total score of 63-57 in favour of the Bisons by the end of the period.

For the herd, Paige Schatkowsky was a standout player, scoring seven points including significant contributions to rebounds. Miko and Emily Mandamin also added to the team’s score, maintaining a strong defence that limited the Wesmen’s opportunities.

In the fourth quarter of the game both teams battled hard, but the Wesmen’s efforts were not enough to overcome the deficit. The Wesmen scored 17 points in the quarter, their highest in any quarter during the game, but the Bisons also kept pace by scoring 14 points, thus maintaining their lead and securing a 77-74 victory.

For the Bisons, Miko was a contributing player in this quarter, achieving four points and helping to stabilize the team’s performance amidst increasing pressure. The Bisons’ defence played a crucial role in limiting the Wesmen’s scoring opportunities, despite the Wesmen’s aggressive play. However, despite their late push to narrow the margin, the Bisons’ early lead and consistent scoring across the quarters allowed them to hold on for the win.

The final minutes were tense, with both teams exchanging baskets, but the Bisons’ earlier advantage was too much for the Wesmen to overturn, with Sydnee Harris jumping to the ground to protect the ball with seconds on the clock.

In a post-match interview, the Bisons women’s basketball head coach Michele Sung said, “I love that this group of athletes got to experience […] what this rivalry means.”

Discussing the strategy during a crucial timeout with only minutes left on the clock, Sung shared, “they got easy scores because we weren’t managing a matchup. So, we just talked about that and then on offence, we just talked about if they double anything, then we pass out of it and attack the rim.”

“I think we struggled to get any momentum in terms of how physical we could be in that game without getting foul calls,” Sung said. “We’ve had two really tough weekends. And I thought that this game was called a little bit tighter, so we had to have time adjusting to the physicality that they weren’t letting us play with.”

The Bisons faced the Wesmen again the following day on Feb. 1st and lost 77-67.

The Bisons women’s basketball team will play against the MacEwan Griffins on Feb. 7 at 6 p.m. CT in Edmonton.