Weekend Preview

University of Manitoba Bison Sports

Press Release

November 15, 2001

Basketball-Bisons face tough Cougar teams this weekend

After a successful regular season debut last weekend, the women's team is anxious to get back on the court and keep things going. Last weekend saw the Herd defeat the Brandon University Bobcats by scores of 55-51 and 60-57 respectively, the second one coming in an exciting overtime victory. Aside from starting the season 2-0, the two wins put the Bisons back into the National rankings with the team coming in at #10 this week.

In last week's two victories, post player Anna Drewniak carried her fine play from the preseason into the regular season as she averaged 15.5 points per game and 4.5 rebounds, while 5th year veteran Megan Dixon chipped in with 21 points in the two game set. Dixon also chipped in with a total of 4 assists and three steals and her leadership and strong play was especially crucial in the overtime period on Saturday. Diana Gray also had a good start to the season averaging 8 points a game and playing with intensity and an in-your-face style. The second year guard from J.H. Bruns is definitely a player to watch this year, and in the future.

The Cougars come into town this weekend as the defending CIS Champions and as the #3 ranked team in the country. Christine Stapleton's team is on a roll after beating up on Brandon in the first week of the season and dismantling a very good Winnipeg Wesmen team last weekend. With a wealth of experience and talent, the Cougars are clearly one of the favourites to win the title again this season and the Herd will be in tough this weekend.

However, these teams have also developed quite a rivalry in the past few years and games are always intense and tough, no matter what the circumstances are. Expect Coach Danis and the Herd to give the Cougars all they can handle as the team uses this weekend's games as a measuring stick for the rest of the year. Game time is 6:15 PM both nights.

The men's team had a difficult start to the season last weekend against the #9 Brandon Bobcats. In Friday night's game, Brandon absolutely dominated the Herd winning 80-39 after jumping out to a commanding 39-21 half-time lead and pouring it on in the second half. Arthur Lawrence was the lone bright spot for the Herd in game one, scoring 17 points hauling in 8 rebounds and dishing out 5 assists.

After a night to reflect, a much more determined Bison team came out on Saturday, but once again Brandon's athleticism and hot shooting was too much for the Herd as the Bobcats walked out of IGAC with an 87-77 win after taking a 50-33 half-time lead. Newcomer Jatinder Johal was the scoring star for the Bisons on Saturday, pouring in a team and game-high 27 points and adding 10 rebounds, while Arthur Lawrence completed a good weekend on a personal note finishing with 21 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds. Lawrence is tied for ninth in Conference scoring after two games averaging 19 points and has looked like he will have no problem excelling in the Canadian College game.

Rick Suffield's team will need more production from its veterans such as Paul Fust and Clarence Vigilance if it hopes to be successful The two 5th year players were rendered largely ineffective by a tough Brandon defence last weekend only scoring 18 points between them in two games.

All-Star guard Ryan Dulder may or may not play this weekend as he nurses a fractured bone in his foot. The talented and silky smooth Dulder is one of the keys to the Herd's fortunes and once he is healthy, the Bisons will have another weapon to throw at teams.

The road in Canada West does not get any easier this weekend as the high scoring Regina Cougars bring their run and gun game to the IGAC. The Cougars are averaging 86.2 points per game and playing well, but conversely they are also giving up 88.2 per game and like to race teams to 100. The 2-2 squad from the Queen City are led by red-hot Tyler Wright who torched the Winnipeg Wesmen for 82 points in last weekend's split in Regina. Wright leads Canada West in scoring after his team's first four games with a Michael Jordan like 33.2 points per game average.

Look for a meaner, less tentative Bison team this weekend as they attempt to put their first notch in the win column and keep pace with the 2-2 Cougars and the 1-1 Wesmen. Game time is 8:00 PM both Friday and Saturday.

Volleyball - Cougars entertain Bisons
Both volleyball teams will head to Regina this weekend. The #2 ranked women who are undefeated in conference play and the #4 men who are 2-2 will look to strengthen their records against two Cougar teams that have struggled to begin the year. Last weekend the Herd swept the Winnipeg Wesmen in six straight games over two matches and looked very polished in doing so. On Friday at Winnipeg, the Bisons turned the trick without the services of their best player Kathy Preston who was battling the flu. Tammy Mahon was a dominant force in both games hammering down 23 kills in two games, the majority of which were of the thundering variety.

On the men's side of things, the Manitoba-Winnipeg rivalry seems to be alive and well after the two teams won one match each last weekend. On Thursday, the Herd roared back to win three straight after losing the opening set led by Tim Cooper's 24 kills 3 service aces and 1 stuff block. On Friday the Wesmen were too tough to handle winning in a five set marathon. Once again Tim Cooper showed that his move from middle to opposite side has agreed with him as he pounded down 18 kills for a 42 kill weekend.