UFV Cascades Women’s Basketball team face Saint Mary’s University Huskies in CIS “Final 8” quarterfinals in Regina, Saskatchewan

March 12, 2013 By David Kent
News, Women's Basketball

Abbotsford, BC…The UFV Cascades are participating in their first CIS women’s basketball “Final 8” national championship tournament will face the AUS champions Saint Mary’s University Huskies in the first round on Friday at 8:30pm MST. Founded in 1983, the Cascades entered Canada West (and the CIS) seven years ago in 2006 and have steadily improved each season. This past Canada West regular season, UFV broke several “key” school marks. The Cascades finished the regular season with a sparkling 18-4 record, breaking the school’s mark for wins in a regular season, previously 12 (accomplished twice). The Cascades won their first Canada West regular season (Pacific) division title and on January 3^rd hit the pinnacle as they were ranked number one in Canada for two straight weeks in the CIS top ten poll. UFV never dropped below 4^th all year, a great accomplishment for a school playing in only its seventh year in the CIS. “Making our first appearance at the “Final 8” is another accomplishment and another first for this team,” commented head coach Al Tuchscherer.

2012-13 UFV WBB Playoffs Media Guide

Led by head coach Al Tuchscherer, who is in his 11^th year at the helm of UFV, and his staff, has been able to make the transition from CCAA college level ball to the CIS an easy one for his student-athletes. Tuchscherer, like most very active coaches in the community, is one of the founders of the Junior Cascade Program, where junior and high school level student-athletes can hone their skills in preparation for participating in CIS women’s varsity basketball, the highest level of amateur basketball in Canada. The present UFV Cascades line up are no strangers to Coach Tuchscherer as even of the 12 on the roster have gone through the program. While the Cascades will be the “rookies” at the CIS “Final 8” tournament (their first appearance) the “key” to the team is that the nucleus has been together since high school playing various levels of ball as a unit.

Led by second team Canada West all-star Aieisha Luyken, Mission, BC who was top scorer with 356 points for a 13.2 points per game average and Sarah Wierks, Chilliwack, BC with 340 points (12.6 ppg) and 260 total boards (9.6 rpg), Coach Tuchscherer has many weapons and very deep bench to go to in a short tournament, like the CIS “Final 8” three-day event. Seven different players averaging four or more points per game, six different Cascades led UFV in scoring during the regular and post season, seven different Cascades led in rebounding and in 12 regular season games every Cascade scored two or more points. The Cascades “trademark” is defense, 12 times this season they held their opponents to under 10 points in a quarter, twice holding their opponent to under 20 points at the intermission. UFV tenacious defense forced their opponents to commit 580 turnovers in 22 regular season games.

The Cascades are no stranger to the University of Regina Cougars Centre for Kinesiology, Health & Sport they have played at U of R three times this 2012-13 school year. The Cougars hosted two different preseason events this year, UFV participated in both coming away with a 4-2 record including victories over Carleton University (OUA East champions) 59-58 and the host Cougars (Canada West Champions) 77-72. In the regular season UFV lost a “nail bitter” to the Cougars 59-55 back on December 1^st. The Cascades are ready for the challenge of their first visit to the CIS elite women’s basketball tournament with ten veterans and two rookies and great chemistry the program’s future is bright and this weekend is just another positive step in this growing program’s history.

Championship website: http://english.cis-sic.ca/championships/wbkb/index

Online Webcasting: www.CIS-SIC.tv

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