Ice cold second quarter a backbreaker for Griffins in home-opener loss to Winnipeg
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
11 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 60 |
|
|
12 | 3 | 10 | 16 | 41 |
Team Stats
Winnipeg
| Game Statistics | Winnipeg | MacEwan University |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goals | (22-65) | (14-70) |
| Field Goal % | 33.8% | 20.0% |
| Rebounds | 49 | 39 |
| Assists | 9 | 4 |
| Turnovers | 24 | 20 |
| Pts off Turnovers | 29 | 15 |
| 2nd Chance Pts | 12 | 6 |
| Pts in the Paint | 20 | 18 |
| Fastbreak Pts | 8 | 5 |
| Bench Pts | 30 | 10 |
Jason Hills
For MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON — The MacEwan Griffins put in a hard, blue-collar effort against the Winnipeg Wesmen, but an ice-cold second quarter proved to be a back breaker.
They held a 12-11 lead after the first quarter, but allowed the Wesmen to go on a 15-0 run to start the second quarter, and were outscored 18-3 in that 10-minute stretch before falling 60-41 to Winnipeg on Friday night at the David Atkinson gym.
"We couldn't score," said Griffins head coach Katherine Adams.
"We had more shot attempts, more offensive rebounds, we had good shots, and good shots at the rim, we just didn't have the scoring touch today."
Unity Obasuyi led MacEwan with 17 points, three rebounds and four steals, while Toni Gordon recorded 11 points, eight rebounds and one assist, as the Griffins fell to 0-3 to start the year.
MacEwan shot just 20 per cent from the field in the loss.
Raia Guinto led Winnipeg with 12 points, while Jazmin Birch recorded a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, as the Wesmen improved to 1-1 this year.
"We had forced more turnovers, and more steals, all of that should tell you that you should be in a game. We defended well, we just need to put the ball in the hoop," said Adams.
"They converted 29 points off our turnovers. That's the difference in the game. It's not that we didn't have scoring opportunities, we just struggled to score, and when you struggle to do that, it just leads to more scoring opportunities for the other team, and they capitalized."
With Winnipeg pulling away in the second quarter, Page Massier took a full court pass and was looking to score the first points of the quarter for MacEwan, but she was blocked.
It wasn't until Obasuyi nailed a three-pointer from the elbow with 1:30 left in the first half to cut the Winnipeg lead to 26-15.
Unity Obasuyi hits from beyond the arc to break a scoring drought in the second quarter for the @MacEwanGriffins. They trail @Wesmen_WBB 29-15 at the half.#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/DHOENcjtec
— MacEwan Griffins Women's Basketball Team (@Griffins_WBB) October 31, 2025
Down 29-15 at the half, the Griffins started the third quarter on a small run after Obasuyi hit two free throws and then picked off a pass on a Wesmen possession and fed Samantha Hickey for a nice layup.
That was Hickey's lone bucket of the contest, but she recorded five rebounds and a career-high six blocks – one shy of Kelly Fagan's program record for the most by a Griffin in a Canada West game – in a strong defensive effort. It's also the most blocks by anyone in a Canada West game so far this season.
Intelligent steal by Unity Obasuyi leads a great fast break bucket from Samantha Hickey as the @MacEwanGriffins claw back in the third quarter.#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/em0Qj1VRhP
— MacEwan Griffins Women's Basketball Team (@Griffins_WBB) November 1, 2025
The Wesmen went on an 11-0 run in the third quarter to keep a 20-point lead on MacEwan as they entered the fourth quarter.
"Every team is good enough to capitalize on your errors, and we need to do a better job of doing the same thing to other teams, and we just didn't do that today," said Adams.
The Griffins outscored Winnipeg 16-15 in the fourth quarter, and had a chance to cut Winnipeg's lead to 12, but missed three free throws, and that was it.
Adams said the Griffins had plenty of quality scoring opportunities, but they just lacked finish at the rim, and they struggled shooting beyond the arc, hitting just 3-of-23 from three-point land.
"A lot of times, we're getting good shots, we're just moving too fast. Our body is there before the mind is ready to execute and have the discipline to slow down, plant the two feet and get the good shot off," said Adams.
"We have some dynamic athletes, and they put themselves in good positions, we just need to take a breath sometimes and slow down and we'll get a better result."
Toni Gordon drives to the hoop with authority!
— MacEwan Griffins Women's Basketball Team (@Griffins_WBB) October 31, 2025
Great three-point play puts the @MacEwanGriffins into the lead late in the opening quarter vs. @Wesmenathletics.#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/ZpzpWFZClB
Sofia Makinen scored five points and hauled in seven rebounds. Makinen and Gordon combined for nine offensive rebounds, as MacEwan recorded 19 offensive rebounds in the loss.
Adams said defensively the Griffins battled and held their own against Winnipeg, forcing 24 turnovers, they just couldn't convert those turnovers into points.
"We had almost every player with an offensive rebound, which is impressive, and we're working to get those opportunities," said Adams.
"Our effort is there, it's just sour we couldn't convert. Only six second-chance points is not good enough when you have 19 offensive rebounds."
MacEwan will look to grab their first win of the season when they wrap up their weekend series with Winnipeg on Saturday (1 p.m.). The game is free to all spectators as part of MacEwan's Open House celebration.
