Files from MacEwan Sports Information Department

EDMONTON - When visiting Winnipeg cranked up the heat on defence, particularly in the second half, it was curtains for the Griffins. The No. 8 nationally-ranked visitors cruised to a 67-45 win to improve to 14-1 on the Canada West women's basketball season.

Winnipeg got off to a quick 12-0 lead early on in the first quarter, taking advantage of several Griffins misses during a stretch of about seven minutes.

The Wesmen led 18-6 after the first quarter, but head coach Tanya McKay said it was clear both teams were using the early minutes to shake off the rust.

"We haven't played for two weeks because we had a bye weekend last week," she said. "I know they did, too. I thought both teams were kind of feeling their way in the beginning. I thought our defence was stellar in the first quarter. I thought we played very poorly in the second quarter. In the second half we just kind of settled down and played."

The Griffins settled down a bit in the second quarter, playing the Wesmen even as their offensive output was highlighted by Kayla Ivicak's leap into the key for a backwards layup, and Kendall Lydon's buzzer-beating three-pointer from way behind the line to pull MacEwan within 13 – (down 35-22) – at the half.

But when Winnipeg came out in the full-court press in the second half, MacEwan's open looks evaporated. The Wesmen's fourth-year star Antoinette Miller not only got the job done on offence with 16 points and 11 rebounds, she led the charge on defence, too, constantly disrupting MacEwan's attack.

"Ann played tough. She's a veteran point guard and she knows the game well," said McKay. Even today on defence, she showed us things today that we haven't seen out of her. So that was pretty impressive. Not only is she doing what she's supposed to do at the point guard position – she's looking to score – I thought tonight was her best defensive game of the year."

The Wesmen had 17 steals on the evening, led by Kerri Kuzbyt and Faith Hezekiah's four and Miller's three. The Griffins scored just nine points in the third quarter as they missed shot after shot, even having the indignity of seeing put-backs rattle out.

Besides Miller's double-double, the Wesmen also received some great contributions from Hezekiah, who bucketed 16 points, while adding seven boards. Skylar Boulanger wasn't far off the double-double, herself, with 10 points and eight rebounds.

Ivicak led the Griffins with 13 points and eight rebounds, but no one else was in double figures.

The teams will meet again on Saturday night at 6:00 p.m. (Wpg Time)