Box Score CALGARY, AB – The MRU Cougars women's basketball team was able to hold on to secure a 57-51 win over the University of Winnipeg Wesmen Friday evening at Kenyon Court.

Winnipeg got on the board first, going up 5-0 early. However, the Cougars took over from there. MRU went on a 7-0 run to take the lead and kept rolling into the second quarter. 

Mount Royal was forced to play significantly shorthanded, only dressing eight players due to injury and illness. The short bench meant elevated minutes for those in the lineup and a test of their conditioning. 

Both the Cougars and Wesmen struggled from beyond the arc in the first half. They held identical stat lines of 1-for-15 from deep after two quarters 

MRU went into the halftime break up by 15 in a low-scoring affair. 

The second half offered much better play from the visiting Wesmen. Winnipeg captain Anna Kernaghan helped Winnipeg chip away at MRU's lead with her confident ball handling. The floor general finished the game with 11 points and three steals. 

Despite their lead getting cut down to as little as five, the Cougars did not allow their opponent to take over. 

Mount Royal's player of the game, Nora Luca put up a season-best 19 points, also registering game-highs of five assists and three blocks. The impressive all-around performance from the third-year forward helped secure the important victory for MRU. The win marks the Cougars third in a row. 

The Wesmen and Cougars go head-to-head for a second time tomorrow night at 6 p.m. at Kenyon Court. Tickets are available for purchase online or fans can stream the game live on Canada West TV.