BRANDON – The Brandon Bobcats picked up their fifth consecutive conference win, but it didn't come easy as the Bobcats outlasted provincial rival Winnipeg Wesmen 88-76 Thursday night. The win marks the first time the Bobcats have beaten the Wesmen in a conference game in nearly six years.

The game was a tale of two halves, as the contest started as a sprint, but finished a slugfest.  The first half featured hot shooting and run and gun offense, as the Bobcats shot 61 per cent from the floor in the first frame. The second half was physical and low scoring, but the type of game fans have started to expect between these two teams.

The first quarter was all Bobcats, as they shot efficiently from the floor, highlighted by fifth-year forward Kaela Cranston hitting her first three attempts from beyond the arc. The Winnipeg product went 5-for-5 from three at one point, before finishing with 19 points.

Four Wesmen finished in double-digit scoring, but it wasn't enough as five Bobcats finished in double figures.

Amy Williams also finished with 19 points, while Alyssa Montgomery finished with 14 points in just 18 minutes of playing time after sitting out most of the second half due to foul trouble. Keisha Cox recorded a double-double (10 points and 10 rebounds), while Lauren Anderson notched 10 points as well, playing in her first conference game against her former team. Anderson suited up for the Wesmen in the 2012-13 season.       

Megan Noonan tallied a team high of 24 points for the Wesmen, to go with four assists. Kerri Kuzbyt had 13 points and four assists, while Lena Wenke had 12 points and eight rebounds.

Bobcats coach Novell Thomas had positive words to say after the game, but knows more work lies ahead.

"It is good, but right away we have to start preparing for them again on Saturday, we feel good and are excited to play in their gymnasium."

With the win the Bobcats improve to 5-2, while the Wesmen fall to 1-8 on the season.

The second game of the home-and-home series goes this Saturday at the University of Winnipeg.