University of Winnipeg

A much more competitive second half wasn't enough to undo the deficit the Winnipeg Wesmen found themselves in after 40 minutes.
 
The UBC Thunderbirds held the Wesmen women's basketball team to 18 first-half points and produced an 80-52 Canada West conference victory Friday night in U of W's home-opener at the Duckworth Centre. 
 
The Wesmen (1-1) were held to 27.1 per cent shooting and 28.6 per cent from three.
 
The Thunderbirds (3-0) opened on a 15-0 run and held the Wesmen without a field goal for nearly a full five minutes to start the game. 
 
UBC pushed its lead over 20 with two Cerys Merton free throws 47 seconds into the second quarter. The T-Birds would eventually push the lead to 29 at 47-18 going into halftime. 
 
Winnipeg trailed by 33 in the third quarter despite only being outscored 18-17 in the frame. 
 
The Wesmen used a 17-5 run to end the third and start the fourth quarter in trimming that deficit down to 21. 
 
Raia Guinto led the Wesmen with 12 points.
 
Olivia Weekes had 20 and 10 rebounds to top the T-Birds, while Mona Berlitz scored 14, and Stella Lagrange and Emilia Banmann 10 each.
 
The two teams meet again Saturday at 7 p.m.