Cascades face Alberta Pandas for trip to CIS “Final 8” Tournament tomorrow night
Calgary, Alberta…The University of Regina Cougars defeated the University of the Fraser Valley Cascades, 84-77, in Calgary, in one of two Canada West women’s basketball semi-finals. The Cascades will face the University of Alberta Pandas tomorrow night in the Canada West bronze medal game, the winner of the game receives an automatic bid to the CIS “Final 8” national championship tournament in Regina the weekend of March 15-17. The game is set for 5pm MST.
The Regina Cougars jumped out to an early double digit lead, 16-6, and led by nine points after the first quarter. The Cascades responded in the second quarter going on two large runs before halftime, one of seven points to get back to within single digits and ended the second quarter on a 10-0 run, tying the game at 40-40 heading into the break, holding the Cougars scoreless over the final three minutes of the half.
The Cascades took their first lead since the opening minutes of the game after a free throw by Sarah Wierks, Chilliwack, BC gave them a one-point advantage after halftime, but the Cougars responded with a key three point basket to put them back into the lead for good. Seven straight points late in the quarter gave the Regina an eight-point lead.
In the fourth quarter, UFV got a three-pointer from Courtney Bartel, Chilliwack, BC to pull to within eight, and a layup and a pair of free throws by Sarah Wierks got the Cascades to within four with 15 seconds left. The Cougars hit a pair of free throws late in the contest to earn the trip back to the CIS national championship tournament through the front door.
Sarah Wierks led UFV with 17 points and dominated on the glass, leading all players with 16 rebounds. Kayli Sartori, Chilliwack, BC had 16 points, while Nicole Wierks, Chilliwack, BC scored 15 and Bartel came off the bench to score 13.
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