CALGARY — A valiant second-half comeback fell short for the Winnipeg Wesmen Friday night. 

The Wesmen women's basketball team outscored the Mount Royal Cougars by nine points in the second half, but it wasn't enough to overcome a difficult first half in a 57-51 Canada West conference loss.

Winnipeg was held to 10 points in the first half, but stormed back with a 13-2 run to end the third and start the fourth that took a 16-point deficit down to 45-40 with 7:16 to play.

The Wesmen, who trailed 25-10 at half and were behind by as many as 17 in the third quarter, outscored the Cougars (5-2) 41-32 after halftime.

Raia Guinto had 12 points and five steals to lead the Wesmen (1-6) and Anna Kernaghan added 11 points and five rebounds.

Tamiya Ness grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds for the Wesmen, who outrebounded MRU 47-44.

Nora Luca led the Cougars with 19 points, five assists and three blocks. 

The Wesmen held the Cougars to 4-for-24 from the three-point line, their second-lowest efficiency of the season from three. Winnipeg made 7 of 29 from three and shot 31.8 per cent from the field.