BRANDON — The Winnipeg Wesmen clutched up in the late stages and earned an opening-night win on Friday.

Jazmin Birch made a layup with 28 seconds left to take the lead and the Wesmen women's basketball team held off a plucky Brandon Bobcats team to open the Canada West conference season with a 71-68 victory at the Healthy Living Centre. 

The Wesmen led by as many as nine in the fourth quarter, but the Bobcats stormed back and briefly took three leads in the final frame, including a 68-67 edge with 47 seconds to go after a Piper Ingalls' three. 

But Birch was able to find herself free on a drive into the lane to give the Wesmen the lead back and Winnipeg forced a turnover on the next possession to help salt away the victory. 

Birch was particularly sharp in the third quarter as she scored eight points in six minutes all during a key 15-0 Winnipeg run that turned a two-point deficit into a 52-39 lead. She finished with 14 points on the night. 

Anna Kernaghan led the Wesmen with 16 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists while adding a block and a steal. Raia Guinto also had 14 points and eight rebounds. 

The Bobcats were led by Amaya McLeod who had 26 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists and four steals. Cali Yates added 11 points and seven rebounds. 

Winnipeg outrebounded the Bobcats 55-43 including 18 on the offensive glass.

Due to a scheduling quirk, the Wesmen are now off until a Nov. 15-16 road trip to Mount Royal.