The University of the Fraser Valley Cascades women’s basketball team opened the 2010-11 Canada West regular season with a 71-58 victory over the University of Manitoba Bisons, at the Envision Athletic Centre. The Cascades will entertain the Bisons again on Saturday, game time set for 5:00PM.
The young Cascades came out strong and led from opening whistle to closing with a strong balance of offense and defense and then held on in the fourth quarter when Manitoba made a run at the Cascade lead. Led by veteran Tessa Klassen, Winnipeg, Manitoba making her official UFV Cascade debut along side rookie Sarah Wierks, Chilliwack, BC playing her first CIS regular season game, the Cascades showed they will compete in the very talented Canada West conference this winter.
“It was great to finally step back on the court in a CIS game,” said the fourth year Arts major. “I felt nervous early in the game, especially guarding my sister (Kayla) but as the game went on my confidence grew.”
The Cascades jumped out to a double digit lead midway through the first quarter and led by 10-points, at the end of the first quarter, 23-13. In the second quarter, the Cascades defense held Manitoba to 9-points and most of those points came late in the quarter as UFV went into the locker room up by 15-points.
The second half, started the same as the first, with UFV moving the ball around and keeping Manitoba from mounting any large runs at their double digit lead. The Bisons did make a run at the Cascade lead in the fourth quarter, but veterans Klassen, Nicole Wierks, Chilliwack, BC and Courtney Bartel, Chilliwack, BC closed down Manitoba and the Cascades go onto an opening night 13-point victory.
Bartel and Sarah Wierks led the Cascades with 17-points each, Tessa Hart, Mission, BC added 10-points as 10 different Cascades scored at least 2-points in the victory over Manitoba. Nicole Wierks pulled down 8-total rebounds as UFV out rebounded Manitoba 44 to 32 for the game.
“We played very good team defense especially in the second quarter,” said UFV Head Coach Al Tuchscherer. “I was impressed with our rebounding especially Sarah and Nicole (Wierks) on the offensive boards.” “Our maturity grew in the final quarter when we were able to hold onto the lead and win the game.”
Manitoba 13 9 16 20 = 58
UFV 23 14 17 17 = 71
Top Scorers:
Manitoba: S Gill/ C Ilago 11-points each
UFV: C Bartel/ S Wierks 17-points each
Team Rebounds:
Manitoba: 5+27=32
UFV: 18+26=44
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