REGINA — The Winnipeg Wesmen passed their first stiff test of the conference season.

Kyanna Giles returned to her former home and scored 26 points while adding six assists, six steals, and four rebounds to lead the Wesmen women's basketball team to an 88-82 triumph over the Regina Cougars in a Canada West clash Friday night. 

Giles, who was an all-Canadian with Regina prior to transferring to Winnipeg after the 2019 season, played her first game back in the Queen City and led four Wesmen in double-digit scoring.

Keylyn Filewich had 20 points and nine rebounds, Faith Hezekiah added 18 and seven, and Robyn Boulanger chipped in 15 points off 5-for-7 shooting from three. 

"Regina is tough. They play very fast looking to drive to the rim and attack to find their shooters," Wesmen head coach Tanya McKay said. "On the defensive end they press and double. We settled down in the second quarter after giving them 29 in the first. We have some learning and growing to do as a team, but it's a great win to start the season."

It was the first time the Wesmen have won a conference game in Regina since Nov. 1, 2008.

Point guard Anna Kernaghan had just two points but finished with a team-high 10 rebounds.

The Wesmen shot 45.5 per cent from the field and hit on 10 of 31 from three. Regina was held to 38.5 per cent from the floor and went 13-for-39 from the perimeter. 

Winnipeg was down 29-22 after a quarter, but a 12-2 run to start the second gave the Wesmen the lead for good. 

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