University of Toronto Varsity Blues (OUA East) defeat University of the Fraser Valley Cascades (Canada West), 78-69, in the CIS East Regional Championship semi-final. The University of Toronto will now face the University of Western Ontario Mustangs for the CIS East Regional Championships and a berth in next weekend’s CIS “Final 8” tournament, in Windsor, Ontario. Western Ontario Mustangs (OUA West) defeated UNB Varsity Reds (AUS) 82-66. The Cascades season is over at 12-12 in regular season, 2-2 in Canada West post season and 0-1 at CIS Regional Championships.
The game started out even with both teams trying to establish themselves in this inagrual championship tournament. The Varsity Blyues (18-4 in OUA East action this year) came out and took the early lead by six points and carried that into the second quarter, where UFV came alive and ran off the first eight points of the second quarter to take their first lead ever at a CIS Championship level game, 24-23. The Varsity Blues would rebound from the Cascades run and go on an eight run of their own to re-establish their six point advantage. UFV hung around and two late Tessa Klassen, Winnipeg, Manitoba baskets right befiore the half brough UFV to within three points at the intermission.
Sarah Wierks, Chilliwack, BC led the Cascades at the half with eight points and Klassen and Courtney Bartel, Chilliwack, BC each added five points at the break,. Klassen pulled down a team high 5 rebounds in the first half.
In the third quarter, the Varsity Blues outscored UFV by nine points and held the Cascasdes to 12 points. This opened up a 12 point lead for Toronto going into the final quarter. In the final quarter, UFV kept pressuring Toronto but the OUA East regular season champs did not budge holding their double digit lead midway through the quarter. The Cascades made one last run late in the quarter but could not knock the lead under ten points until two minutes remaining when they trailed by nine points.
The Cascades were led by Alyssa Gaukel, Chilliwack, BC with 14 points and Sarah Wierks, Chilliwack, BC with 12 points. Other Cascades in double figures were Klassen with 11 points and Aieisha Luyken, MIssion, BC with 10 points. Sarah Wierks led all Cascades with 10 total rebounds as UFV pulled down 29 total boards for the game.
UFV 16 15 12 26 = 69
Toronto 22 12 21 34 = 78
Top Scorers:
Toronto: Nicki Schultz 24 points /UFV: Alyssa Gaukel 14 points
Team Rebounds:
Toronto: 11+23=34 /UFV: 3+26=29
Players of the Game:
Torontio: Nicki Schultz / UFV: Sarah Wieks
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