Girls Nite Out
A celebration of Bisons women’s sports
Ajitpaul Mangat, Staff
Cougars goalie Lisa Urban keeps the puck away from Bisons forward Shannon Hoogsteen in Friday nights game. The Bisons won 1-0.
As a fitting end of season homage to one of the best women’s sports campaigns in the history of the U of M, Girls Nite Out, a thank you to all the female fans who fill the stands and the female athletes and coaches who provide the sporting theatrics, was held by the university this past Saturday evening. Although the women’s basketball and hockey teams had largely unsuccessful and unmemorable weekend series, the past and future memories that these teams, along with women’s volleyball, have and will soon create in the playoffs overshadowed any singular losses that the teams were dealt.
Basketball
The Bison women’s basketball team (8-14) opened the festivities on Friday evening against the No. 8-ranked University of Regina Cougars (16-6), who led the Great Plains division heading into the weekend’s action.
The opening quarter proved prophetic of the entire match, as the Bisons remained competitive but were never able to take command of the game from a talented Cougars squad. Due to a strong early performance by Bison post Melanie Schlichter, Manitoba held a two-point lead after the first quarter.
This lead soon evaporated as the Cougars’ vaunted offence, led by guard Stacey Walker, finally began to play up to its potential. Combined with stingy defence the Cougars were able to take a seven-point lead into the halftime break.
The third quarter found the Bisons once again remaining competitive, slicing the lead to as little as two points, but the proverbial second gear was just not there for the home team on the evening.
The fourth quarter saw Manitoba, burdened with foul trouble, unable to stay close with the superior Cougars. The road team gradually built on their lead, ultimately winning the game by a decisive 83-65 score line. Cougar forward Carmen Stewart and Schlichter led all scorers with 20 and 19 points respectively.
Even with the Girls Nite Out festivities in full swing on Saturday night, the Bisons were still unable to match the Cougars’ high level of play. The opening half saw the Bisons offence improve immensely, scoring a total of 26 points after just five points in the first quarter, but the defence was not able to contain the visitors who, led by post Brittany Read’s 10 points and seven rebounds, were able to build a commanding 39-26 halftime lead.
The home team’s spirits remained high during the second half with the crowd behind them allowing them to cut the lead to just eight points in the third quarter, but the Cougars once again turned their game up a notch when needed. The fourth quarter was a one-sided affair in favour of the visitors, who ultimately won the game 75-53, and swept the weekend series. Guard Tessa Klassen led the Bisons with 12 points.
Hockey
Across the way at the Max Bell Centre the No. 5-ranked Bison women’s hockey team (18-4-2) was similarly having trouble with the No. 7-ranked University of Regina Cougars (12-10-2) in a battle of Canada West heavyweights.
The first game of the weekend series was a tight, competitive match with both teams’ defences and goaltenders proving difficult to beat. The Bisons broke the deadlock by taking advantage of their special teams in the opening period. A breakdown by the Cougars’ penalty kill allowed wide-open forward Addie Miles to unleash a blistering shot from the point that found its way past goaltender Lisa Urban.
The second period was a seesaw affair; the Cougars pelted nine shots at Bison netminder Stacey Corfield, and the Bisons created excellent close-range scoring chances for captain, centre Leanne Kisil and forward Tammy Brade. But neither team could find the back of the net.
The third period was similarly balanced. The decisive moment of the game came late in the closing frame when the Bisons were able to kill off Chelsea Braun’s penalty and preserve their 1-0 advantage, which stood for nearly the entire game.
The second game of the series was a completely different affair with both teams’ offences dominating the proceedings.
The opening period saw both teams’ special teams play a very important role. As all three goals, one by the Cougars (Kara McGeough) and two by the Bisons (Meghan Ross, Amanda Schnell), were scored on the power play.
The Cougars, who bombarded Manitoba’s net with a wide array of shots, dominated the remainder of the game. McGeough and forward Karissa Swan put the visitors ahead on the scoreboard, as they were able to beat a struggling Corfield. The Cougars form there never relented, maintaining the lead with strong special teams, killing off a Bisons’ two-man advantage at the beginning of the final frame, and a sparkling effort by goaltender Alyssa MacDougall. An empty net goal by forward Julie Paetsch ended the scoring, with the Cougars winning the game 4-2.
Despite the loss the women’s hockey team broke a number of records, including most points, 38, and wins, 18, in a season (the previous marks of 30 points and 15 wins were established last season).
With the 2007-08 conference regular season finished, both teams will now compete in the playoffs.
