Abbotsford, BC….The University of the Fraser Valley Cascades women’s basketball team, ranked 4th in the CIS top ten poll, defeated the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, 65-58, in game one of the Canada West best of three quarterfinal series at the Envision Athletic Centre. The Cascades have now won five straight Canada West quarterfinal games dating back to February, 2011.
Tonight’s game was a typical opening night playoff game with both teams thinking defense first and holding their opponent in check. The Huskies came out strong and would not let the high powered Cascade offense have any great looks at the basket, UFV would not score its first points until the four minute mark when veteran guard Aieisha Luyken, Mission, BC hit from the outside to put UFV on the board. The Huskies continued to play textbook playoff defense the entire first quarter holding UFV to 7 points as they went into the second quarter up by five points.
The second quarter started with Saskatchewan scoring to open up their biggest lead of the half, seven points. After a UFV timeout, Coach Al Tuchscherer put second year guard Jaslyen Singh, Abbotsford, BC into the game and the Science major proved her coach’s move to be a good one as she immediately sparked a 13-0 run scoring six points on three baskets. The Cascades would hold Saskatchewan to nine second quarters points and open up an eight point lead at the break. UFV shot 30 percent from the floor in the half, while the Huskies hit for 41 percent, mostly in the first quarter. The Cascades forced 11 Saskatchewan turnovers in the half a big key to their second quarter success. The half was fast paced and the fact that a total of eight personal fouls were called in the entire half kept the flow of the game at high level.
Luyken led UFV with a game high nine points at the half. Kayli Sartori, Chilliwack, BC and Singh each added six points for the Cascades. The Huskies top scorer was Riley Humbert, Saskatoon, SK with a team high 6 points, seven different Huskies scored at least two points in the first half.
The Cascades opened the second half with a four point mini run to open up a double digit lead which they would hold onto throughout the third quarter. The pace of the game continued to be fast with both teams starting to find their scoring touch. The quarter produced 38 points the most of any all night. UFV went into the final quarter up by ten and held onto that lead until midway through the final quarter when Saskatchewan made one last run at the Cascades and knocked the lead down to five points, but that was as close as the Huskies got as UFV would go onto win game one by seven points.
UFV shot 33 percent in the half as Luyken led all Cascades with a game high 16 point performance. Sartori chipped in with 15 and Nicole Wierks, Chilliwack, BC with 13 points. Sarah Wierks, Chilliwack, BC had a monster game scoring six points, recording 17 rebounds, and two steals. UFV pulled down 43 rebounds, including 20 on offense which turned into 16 second chance points. Eight different Cascades scored at least two points in the opening playoff victory.
The Huskies were led by Dalyce Emmerson, Prince Albert, SK with a team high 14 points. Riley Humbert added 12 points as ten different Huskies scored for coach Jill Humbert, coaching in her first Canada West post season game for Saskatchewan. Emmerson and Kelsey Trulsrud, Saskatoon, SK each pulled down 7 rebounds for the Huskies who recorded 28 for the game.
Game two of the Canada West best of three quarterfinal series goes tomorrow night at the Envision Athletic Centre, game time is set for 7pm. The Huskies need to win to extend the series to Saturday night.
U Sask 12 9 18 9 = 58 (0-1 Playoffs)
UFV 7 22 20 16 = 65 (1-0 Playoffs)
UFV Cascades Canada West Quarterfinal Schedule
(Best 2 out of 3 series)
Men at Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Friday, February 22 Cascades @ Sask Huskies 7pm
Saturday, February 23 Cascades @ Sask Huskies 7pm
Sunday, February 24 Cascades @ Sask Huskies 7pm*
*If needed
Women at Abbotsford, BC (EAC)
Thursday, February 21 Huskies 58 @ Cascades 65
Friday, February 22 Huskies @ Cascades 7pm
Saturday, February 23 Huskies @ Cascades 7pm*
*If needed
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