The University of the Fraser Valley Cascades women’s basketball team defeated the University of Alberta Pandas, 69-63, in Canada West regular season action at the Envision Athletic Centre. The Cascades improve their league record to 8-7 and remain in 7th place in the standings, four points out of 6th place. Tonight was the Cascades first ever victory over the University of Alberta, previously the Cascades were 0-4 against the Pandas in conference or exhibition action.
The Cascades came out strong tonight and opened with a 9-2 lead before the Canada West leaders went on a ten point run to take the lead and hold onto to it through the first quarter as they would open a 6-point lead after the first stanza. In the second quarter both teams traded baskets as the Pandas went into the halftime intermission holding onto their six point lead.
The second half started with UFV starting to challenge the Pandas and they were able to keep in striking distance trailing only by five points as the quarter came to an end. The fourth quarter belonged to UFV as they out scored their opponents from Edmonton, by 11 points, holding the Canada West leaders to 10 fourth quarter points. UFV held off a late rally by Alberta to clinch their 8th Canada West victory of the 2010-11 season.
Four Cascades were in double figures led by Nicole Wierks, Chilliwack, BC with a team high 15 points. Tessa Klassen, Winnipeg, Manitoba added 14 points, while Sarah Wierks, Chilliwack, BC and Aieisha Luyken, Mission, BC chipped in with 13 points each. Sarah Wierks led all Cascades with 12 total rebounds, as UFV pulled down 39 rebounds for the game. Klassen and Luyken also record 4 assists each in the victory over Alberta.
“Important win tonight against a very good Alberta team. I thought the team were really committed to the game plan and even when were down early in the fourth quarter they stayed dedicated to each other,” said UFV Head Coach Al Tuchscherer. “I think it was also important to establish ourselves as more than a 3 point shooting team. Alberta took the 3 ball away from us, and we found other ways to score. Let’s see what we learned last week in Calgary, see if we can increase our intensity in Saturday night’s game after a solid effort on Friday.”
Luyken agreed with her coach, “We are very happy with our progress on the court. It has been fun to see our team grow each night. We are concentrating on each game one at a time,” said the second year Kinesiology major.
Alberta 23 16 14 10 = 63 (12-3)
UFV 17 16 15 21 = 69 (8-7)
Top Scorers:
Alberta: Nicole Clarke 22 points / UFV: Nicole Wierks 15 points
Alberta: Nicole Clarke 22 points / UFV: Nicole Wierks 15 points
Team Rebounds:
Alberta: 13+30=43 / UFV: 16+23=39
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