For three quarters, the gave the country's , the Regina Cougars, all they could handle.

But the Cougars used a 13-3 spurt to start the fourth quarter, defeating the visiting Spartans in Canada West action. Regina improved to 13-0.

"(The) game was a great opportunity to see how we matched up to the top team in the country," said coach Cheryl Jean-Paul.

"I thought we played fairly disciplined in the first three quarters and just didn't have enough to finish as strongly as we needed to, to steal a win from an undefeated team."

Strom was the lone Spartan to score in double digits, finishing with 16 points.

Tiffany Olsen had nine points and nine rebounds and Emily Knauff had five points, seven rebounds and four assists.

The Spartans had won the night before in Brandon, over the winless Bobcats (0-14). In that game, the defence was stingy in the second and third quarters, allowing a combined 13 points.

Strom led the offence with 20 points.

The weekend split gives Trinity Western a 7-7 record, and a one-game lead for the third and final playoff spot in the Pacific Division.

The Spartans are at the on Saturday to face the second-place Fraser Valley Cascades (10-4).