The UFV Cascades women’s basketball team (13-5) finish their weekend home-stand with a split after defeating the Brandon University Bobcats (5-13) tonight at the EAC. The Cascades maintain a three-way tie with UBC and the University of Victoria for first in the Pacific division of the Canada West, while the Bobcats are a distant sixth in the Prairie division.
Despite the variance in season records, tonight’s game wasn’t a sure Cascades victory. While UFV led for most of the game, the Bobcats kept the differential small and trailed by only a single point (down 46-45) with two and a half minutes left in the third quarter. Brandon’s Cassie Cooke almost single-handedly mounted that third quarter rally with three consecutive three-pointers, shooting her way to 21 total points. The Cascades could not match Cooke’s innate firepower, managing only 29 percent from field-goal range. Fortunately, UFV out-rebounded Brandon by a factor of two, pulling down 52 rebounds, including 27 offensive boards, to Brandon’s 21,. Sarah Wierks grabbed 11 of those 27 by herself, on her way to 14 total boards and 12 points.
As of tonight, UFV leads the Canada West in field goal percentage defense, rebounding defense, and steals per game. It seems there’s nothing legendary about the Cascades defense; it is exactly as formidable as it’s rumoured to be!
The Cascades were led by Wierks, Aieisha Luyken with 14 points (4-9 from the three), and Courtney Bartel with 12 points and 10 rebounds. All but one Cascade with minutes had an assist on the night.
Beside Cooke, the Bobcats received a key performance from Stephanie Haynes with 13 points.
“Another good test for us tonight,” said Cascades head coach Al Tuchscherer. “Brandon challenges you in a few unique ways and it took us a bit of time to adjust to their personnel and the things they were running. I thought our bench really energized us tonight and turned the game in our favour. This was an important win for us as we battle for playoff seeding.”
The Cascades will travel to Prince George next Friday to take on the UNBC Timberwolves. The Bobcats will host the Lethbridge Pronghorns in Brandon.
Watch the games online at canadawest.tv
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