REGINA — The Winnipeg Wesmen ran into one of the Canada West's conference hottest teams and dropped an 84-49 women's basketball decision to the Regina Cougars Friday night. 

The Cougars won their third game in a row and improved to 11-2 to stay in a tie atop the Prairie Division, while Winnipeg fell to 4-9 with its sixth straight loss.

The Wesmen remain outside of the seven-team Prairie playoff picture, a game back of seventh-place Manitoba and two back of Lethbridge, in sixth. The Wesmen will face both teams in their final six games after the Regina weekend. 

On Friday, the Wesmen were held to three points in the second quarter and trailed 37-20 at the half. A 9-0 Regina run over the first 3:17 of the third quarter exacerbated the issue for Winnipeg and pushed the Cougars lead to 28. Regina would go into the quarter 65-30 after a Raia Guinto three punctuated the period. 

Jazmin Birch came off the bench to lead the Wesmen with 13 points and 4-for-8 shooting in 18 minutes. Jennifer Kallon added 10 points in 17 minutes off the bench. 

Sarah Boitson had a career-high 11 rebounds. 

The Cougars were led by Jade Belmore's 28 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Cara Misskey added 16 points and eight rebounds, Izzi Fust scored 15 and Rachel Vanderhooft dropped 10. 

The two teams meet again Saturday at 6 p.m. (Canada West TV)