Jen Kallon wore the cape Thursday night, but she had plenty of back-up in the heroic final sequences. 
 
Kallon scored the game-winning fastbreak layup with just a few seconds left and the Winnipeg Wesmen women's basketball team clawed out a 57-55 win over the Manitoba Bisons at the Investors Group Athletic Centre.
 
Kallon helped the Wesmen earn the first stake in the 2026 Duckworth Challenge, but there was oh so much more that went into the thrilling victory. 
 
The Wesmen (4-13) led only once in the fourth quarter, but it came at the only time that mattered: when the buzzer sounded. 
 
Trailing 55-52 with 23 seconds left, Raia Guinto hit a difficult three to tie the game. On the ensuing Bisons possession, the Wesmen held firm. Manitoba's Anna Miko missed a runner in the lane, but got her own rebound to keep the possession alive. She kicked to freshman Taylor Schepp who tried to get a midrange shot off, but had it blocked by Winnipeg's Sarah Boitson. Jasia Hayden led the break, found Kallon on the run and the third-year forward laid it up and in with 2.6 on the clock. 
 
The final moments were certainly serendipitous for the key players who helped the comeback: It was Guinto's only three of the game, Boitson's lone block of the game and one of two fourth-quarter field goals from Kallon. But they were each critical and necessary for the Wesmen to win a big game.
 
Jazmin Birch, the reigning Canada West player of the week, was solid again with 19 points on 8 of 12 shooting with five rebounds and two steals. Guinto added eight points and five rebounds, Carmen Hiebert scored with, and Kallon finished with seven points, five rebounds and three steals. 
 
Schepp led the Bisons (5-12) with 21 points and eight rebounds, and Darya Rom scored 16. 
 
The two teams meet again Saturday at the Duckworth Centre as the Duckworth Challenge continues.