ABBOTSFORD: It didn’t take Saskatchewan players very long to show British Columbia basketball fans why the Huskies are the No. 4 team in the nation. Saskatchewan scored early and often, putting 30 on the board in the second quarter to build up a 52-30 lead by the break, and easily defeating the University of the Fraser Valley Cascades 90-51 in Canada West women’s basketball action Saturday at Envision Athletic Centre in Abbotsford.
Coupled with the Huskies 68-42 victory at TRU Friday, Saskatchewan recorded a sweep of BC opponents over the weekend, and improved to 9-5 on the season, good for third place in the very-competitive Canada West Prairie Division standings.
The Cascades, who have lost seven straight Canada West games, fell to 1-12.
Saskatchewan dominated every facet of the game, shooting 53 per cent in the opening half, and 50 per cent overall.
Lindsay DeGroot (5th year, 5-10, guard) had a monster game with 27 points. DeGroot was 10 of 15 from the field, five-of-five from the line, and hit a pair of three-point shots. Kim Tulloch (4th year, 5-9, guard) scored 16 for the Huskies.
The Cascades shot just 21 per cent in the second half, and 28 per cent overall.
“The girls need to look across the floor and see that we played a team that obviously prepares to be an elite-level team in this country. They’re strong, they’re fit they knock down open shots. We have to use them as an example to show our girls what it’s like to be an elite-level team,” said Cascades head coach Al Tuchscherer. “Right now for us it’s about learning to compete and learning how to stay focussed, and how to prepare. Everything is a learning experience for our team right now.”
For the Cascades, Canada West leading scorer Jane Meadwell (5th year, 5-9, guard) was held to just nine points. Meadwell was just one of 12 from the field, and missed all five attempts from beyond the arc.
In fact no Cascades player reached double digits against Saskatchewan.
Courtney Bartel (1st year, 5-9, guard) also scored nine on four-of-10 shooting.
Alberta dominated the boards at both ends, out-rebounding Fraser Valley 44-38.
Saskatchewan is at home to Manitoba next weekend while the Cascades travel to Victoria.
Comments are closed.