The Mount Royal Cougars left the door open an inch but the Winnipeg Wesmen weren't able to find a way through.

The Wesmen women's basketball team held the Cougars to just 11 points in the fourth quarter but couldn't take advantage and make a comeback in a 62-47 Canada West conference loss Saturday at the Duckworth Centre. 

While the Wesmen were holding the Cougars (2-4) to 28.6 per cent shooting in the fourth quarter, they were only able to muster eight points of their own and weren't able to chip away at the modest 12-point deficit they faced heading into the final period. 

After falling behind 17-8 after a quarter — and falling behind by 10 20 seconds into the second — the Wesmen managed to tear off a 9-0 run to cut the lead to 18-17. But with the score 23-22 in favour of MRU, the Cougars went on a 10-0 run and held the Wesmen without a point for the final 3:17 of the half. 

The Cougars maintained their double-digit edge for the rest of the game, pushing it up to as many as 15 in the third. 

Jazmin Birch had a game-high 18 points and nine rebounds to lead the Wesmen, who head into a bye week before going to Calgary to play the Dinos. 

Freshman Jennifer Edwards scored 10 points and dished out four assists with two steals. 

The Wesmen were held to 26 per cent shooting and 21.4 per cent from three. 

Jenessa Ramsoomair led the Cougars with 17 points and Asha Donnelly scored 10. 

Winnipeg held the Cougars to 5 of 26 from three and 31.1 per cent from the field.