Weekend Preview: UFV Basketball and Volleyball
Fire meets ice as blazing hot Cascades head to Prince George
UFV Cascades basketball will face the UNBC Timberwolves this weekend in the wild, wild north (a.k.a. Prince George). The Cascades will seek to preserve all their fingers and toes, while also improving their position in the tightening playoff picture. If the women manage to sweep this weekend they will be in a very good position to take first in the Pacific, while two wins for the men could essentially clinch their status at second in the division.
Women’s Basketball:
The UNBC Timberwolves (4-14) are in the midst of a particularly rough patch of schedule, having played Victoria, UBC, Saskatchewan, and Alberta in a row on their way to eight straight losses. Obviously the Cascades (13-5), as one of the divisional front runners, are favored to hand UNBC two more losses in short order. The outcome of this weekend rests largely upon the ability of UFV to play to their potential, and dictate terms to their opponents.
Still, the T-Wolves could get a boost if fifth year guard Jen Bruce returns after missing the last eight games recovering from a concussion. Before her injury, Bruce averaged 12.9 ppg, second among all Timberwolves and trailing only UNBC star Mercedes VanKoughnett who averages 17.5 ppg.
In Bruce’s absence, the UNBC offense has rested squarely upon the shoulders of VanKoughnett, who leads the team in almost every category. The fifth year guard averages a team-high 35.4 minutes, 3.2 steals, 5.8 assists, 8.2 rebounds, and 36.6 percent shooting from behind the arc. Her main accomplice at the moment is fellow fifth-year Emily Kaehn, who manages 12.2 ppg and only three fewer minutes than VanKoughnett. If the T-Wolves are to compete with the star-studded Cascades this weekend, they will need these two women to play the game of their lives.
Men’s Basketball:
The UFV Cascades (13-5) have looked more dangerous every weekend since the break, and are currently riding a ten game win streak. By contrast, the UNBC Timberwolves (4-14) have endured seven straight losses, and are trying to forget last Saturday’s bruising 96-70 beat-down courtesy of the University of Alberta.
On the positive side, the Timberwolves have four players averaging more than ten points per game, including fifth-year forward Charles Barton. While Barton is small for a forward at 6-3, his .353 three-point percentage prove he’s a threat from anywhere on the court, especially paired with fourth-year 6-7 Cameroon import Franck Olivier Kouagnia. Together the pair combine for an average of 27.6 ppg, as well as the lion’s share of UNBC’s rebounding.
The Cascades would like to leave Prince George with two wins (since they’re favoured by the numbers) and zero injuries (since coach Adam Friesen runs one of the shortest benches in the Canada West).
Schedule:
Friday, Feb 7
6 pm UFV Cascades @ UNBC Timberwolves (WBB)
8 pm UFV Cascades @ UNBC Timberwolves (MBB)
Saturday, Feb 1
6 pm UFV Cascades @ UNBC Timberwolves (WBB)
8 pm UFV Cascades @ UNBC Timberwolves (MBB)
Watch all the games online at canadawest.tv
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