Regina, SK…The University of Regina Cougars, ranked third in the CIS top ten poll, defeated the University of the Fraser Valley Cascades, ranked second in the CIS top ten poll, 59-55, in an exciting Canada West women’s basketball regular season game played in Regina, Saskatchewan. Both teams are now 9-1 and on top of their respective Canada West divisions. The Cascades nine game winning streak comes to an end with their four point loss.
UFV first battled the inclement weather traveling from Brandon to Regina to play in tonight’s regular season game. The Cascades looked great in the first quarter as they competed well against the defending Canada West regular season champions on Regina’s home court. UFV quickly grabbed the early lead on several baskets by Aieisha Luyken, Mission, BC and Nicole Wierks, Chilliwack, BC and gave the Cougars all they could handle in the first quarter. UFV led by two points going into the second quarter, where the team’s offense shut down, scoring a season low seven points in the quarter. UFV shot 25 percent in the half as two players scored the majority of the teams points with Luyken leading the Cascades with 11 points and Nicole Wierks adding 6 for 66 percent of UFV’s total offense.
Team defense continued to be the story of this game as the third quarter was also very low scoring with Regina out scoring UFV by five points to build the game’s highest lead of eight points at 45-37. UFV forced Regina to turn over the ball 21 times showing great patience on defense. The fourth quarter belonged to UFV as they continued to inch closer and came within four points of the Cougars several times down the stretch before Regina’s defense held on for the victory. “Girls didn’t quite have enough today against a very good Regina team. I was happy that we gave ourselves a chance in the last minute, but ultimately we need to be hungrier defensively and we need to execute better down the stretch,” said UFV head coach Al Tuchscherer.
The Cascades were led by Luyken with a team high 16 point performance. The fourth year Kinesiology major had a great game in addition to leading UFV in scoring, Aieisha recorded 5 assists and 4 steals. Nicole Wierks finished the night with 12 points and last night’s hero Kayli Sartori, Chilliwack, BC added 11 points, four boards and four steals. UFV shot 35 percent in the second half and 29 for the game. Courtney Bartel, Chilliwack, BC led UFV with 8 total rebounds as the Cascades record 29 for the game.
“Huge lessons were learned today with regards to our prep and approach to the game. I thought we showed a lot of resiliency. Those lessons are big for us as we prepare for the second half of the season,” commented Tuchscherer.
The Cascades are now on holiday/exam break. The Canada West regular season resumes for UFV the weekend of January 11-12 (2013) with another two challenges as the Saskatchewan Huskies and Alberta Pandas invade the Envision Athletic centre in Abbotsford.
UFV 19 7 11 18 = 55 (9-1)
UR 17 12 16 14 = 59 (9-1)
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