January 18 - It's hard to say what was more popular on this Friday night in Kamloops, the turnovers at your favorite fast food joint, or the turnovers on the court at the Tournament Capital Center. For the Manitoba Bison: it was definately the latter.

The Bison took advantage of some fourth quarter miscues and took it to the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack 75-57.

"Our guys really battled and tried to stick to a game plan. It wasn't really working until the fourth quarter," stated Manitoba Coach Pam Danis. "In the fourth quarter, I thought we started to wear them down a bit." The final stanza saw the Bison go up by as much as 17 points.

Danis praised the play of third year guard Kaitlyn Flett (Winnipeg, MB) and fourth year post Melanie Schlichter (Winnipeg, MB). Flett wound up with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Schlichter had 12 points.

"We got into a bit of foul trouble in the first half," stated Denis. "We had to put some kids in to give them some minutes. But they (Flett and Schlichter) were challanged at half time and they answered the challange."

Flett and second year guard Tessa Klassen (Winnipeg, MB) led the way for the Bisons (now 5-9) with 16-points a piece. TRU's top gunner was Kayla Forsyth. The second year forward (Vernon, BC) had 12 points. Third year forward Alix Stupich (third year, Ladysmith BC) had 11 points, eight in the second half.

"We must have given them 40 turnovers in the game," sighed WolfPack Coach Scott Reeves afterwards. " We literally threw the game away. Fourth quarter, we're down four, 54-50. We get outscored 21-7. A lot of that came from turnovers and bad defensive rotations."

But it was hard to tell who wanted to give the ball up more in the first half as both teams seemed to play the style, you have it, I don't want it type of game. The WolfPack led the contest by one (13-12) after the first quarter. They also led by five at one point in the second. But it was the Bison who led it by one: 35-34 at the break.

Now 1-15 on the year, WolfPack Coach Scott Reeves put this one in perspective. "To have a chance is better than last year. Last year we had no chance ever. To be within four in the last quarter is a step forward".

Danis had this assessment of the WolfPack, who have dressed a lineup of four freshmen and three sophomores all season. "They are an up and coming team. Look for big things from them in the future."

TRU has little chance to lick their wounds. They take on the University of Winnipeg Wesmen on Saturday night in their final home game of the month. Manitoba moves down the Coquihalla Highway to face the University College of the Fraser Valley the same night.

"We are in tough," says Danis. "They have a veteran team with some big players. We'll see what we can do."