REGINA — The Winnipeg Wesmen had their biggest upset of the season in front of them until the Regina Cougars found one extra gear.

The Wesmen women's basketball team trailed by only two points early in the fourth quarter, but watched as the Cougars pulled away for an 82-72 Canada West conference victory Friday night. 

The Wesmen were officially eliminated from post-season contention with the defeat and fell to 5-14 on the season, two games back of Victoria, Mount Royal and Manitoba, each of which have seven wins. 

But the Wesmen put together one of their best performances of the season: on the road against a traditional conference juggernaut, and right in the game until the final buzzer.

Anna Kernaghan and Raia Guinto both scored 21 points for the Wesmen, and freshman Jasia Hayden scored a career-high 11.

After trailing by as many as 19 in the third quarter, he Wesmen pulled to 65-63 down on a Hayden three just 10 seconds into the fourth. That capped a 31-14 stretch that put the Wesmen right in the mix of a major upset.

The Cougars (14-5), however, held the Wesmen to just one field goal over the next 6:48 as they stretched lead back to double digits. 

Jade Belmore led Regina with 18 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. Rachel Vanderhooft scored 11 off the bench and Kianna Wiens scored 10. 

The Wesmen made a season-high 13 three-pointers, and shot 43.3 per cent from distance, also a season-high. 

Regina, however, out-rebounded the Wesmen 57-32, including 21-4 on the offensive glass.