PIPER POPS OFF: Bobcats take opener

Piper Ingalls finally had some breathing room on Friday night, and did she ever take advantage of it.

The fifth-year guard, playing with the best starting lineup she’s seen since joining the Brandon University Bobcats in 2019, opened the Canada West women’s basketball season with a career-high 28 points and an 86-71 victory over the Manitoba Bisons at the Healthy Living Centre on Friday.

“We just knew we were the better team at the end of the day, honestly. We came in and knew what we were going to do,” Ingalls said.

“We came into pre-season hot, and we’re doing really well. The new additions to the team really helped us.”

The Bobcats’ new imports wasted no time impacting the team, as Macaya Copeland scored a quick five points and Ella Averill connected on an and-one.

With more attention on them, Ingalls popped off with two three-pointers, frustrating the Bisons as they committed five early fouls on the guard from Moose Jaw, Sask.

BU started in a full-court press, while coach Ilarion Bonhomme rotated through 12 players to maintain high intensity throughout the first quarter.

Bisons rookie Taylor Schepp stepped up and hit a trey as well as a tough layup in the dying seconds of the frame, but the Bobcats still led 25-15 through 10 minutes.

While the Bobcats’ pressure slowed the Bisons down in the first, it broke them in the second.

Manitoba repeatedly turned the ball over in the backcourt while Copeland and Cali Yates made it pay.

Brandon built up a 22-point advantage before its offence dried up for the last three minutes of the half.

However, what it lacked in shooting touch, it made up for in effort on the offensive glass, hauling down six rebounds to extend possessions.

The Bisons ended the quarter on a 7-0 run to cut the Bobcats’ lead to 46-35 at the break.

Offence was hard to come by in the third quarter, but BU fought its way to the free-throw line while locking down on the other end.

The Bobcats drew 10 fouls and went 9-for-14 from the stripe in the third.

Neither team hit double-digits in the quarter for more than six minutes. Then, suddenly, the hosts erupted.

Copeland banked a three and Ingalls drilled two more as Brandon rattled off a quick 15 points to lead 70-49 heading into the fourth.

Manitoba refused to go away quietly, pounding the ball inside for three quick buckets and then hitting two triples on a 12-2 run to make it 72-61 with six minutes to go.

Ingalls finally found the answer for BU, knocking down a four-point play while fouling out starting point guard Sydney Harris.

Earlier versions of Ingalls may have grown frustrated, but she stayed calm with one thought before snapping the scoring run.

“Just that we need to keep pushing through, honestly,” Ingalls said.

“Our whole team played really well today, so it was nice.”

That play reignited the Bobcats, and they closed the Bisons down enough to comfortably win their first-ever Canada West home opener.

“That’s going to set up the season for us,” Maytwayashing said. “The pace, the communication, the team effort, that’s going to go all season.”

Copeland finished with 18 points and nine assists for BU, while Maytwayashing had an 11-point, 10-rebound double-double.

Paige Schatkowsky led Manitoba with 12 points.

The Bobcats went 24-for-39 from the free-throw line, while the Bisons hit six of 14.

Ingalls only needed 15 field-goal attempts, adding seven of 10 free throws while going 5-for-7 from beyond the arc on the best outing of her career.

“She really just did one for us,” Maytwayashing said. “It was really special, especially (since) it was her last … home opener. To do it with a win, I was just so proud of her.”

BU visits Winnipeg on Sunday.

» tfriesen@brandonsun.com

» Instagram: @thomasfriesen5