The UFV Cascades women’s basketball team put in their best performance of the year (so far) tonight in a 66-56 Canada West semi-final victory over the University of Alberta Pandas at the Saville Community Sports Centre in Edmonton. While all the UFV women played like champions, it was a jaw-dropping 29 point effort from Aieisha Luyken (including 4-7 from the three) that truly propelled the Cascades to victory. Tomorrow UFV will take on the University of Saskatchewan Huskies in the Canada West final, the first time the Cascades have ever played for CW gold in the history of the program.
Tonight’s game began on an ugly note with an injury to fourth-year Panda forward Kendra Asleson, but quickly improved into a beautiful contest between two elite squads. With 16 lead changes and not a single double-digit lead in the first 39 minutes and 54 seconds of the game, the Cascades and Pandas showed exactly how competitive the top teams in the Canada West have become this season. Tonight was UFV’s eighth consecutive win, and the first time the Pandas have lost since November 8, 2013.
After Luyken, the Cascades leader scorers were Nataliia Gavryliuk with 9 points, and Sarah Wierks, Kayli Sartori, and Nicole Wierks each with 7 points. The Pandas were led by Andria Carlyon with 17 points and 10 rebounds, and Saskia Van Ginhoven with 13 points.
Ultimately, tonight was a defensive battle between the two best defensive teams in the league. The Cascades held the edge through much of the contest with a suffocating lockdown on Alberta’s post play, forcing 24 turnovers and a 15-57 Panda field goal ratio. Unfortunately the Cascades paid a price in five-foul disqualifications (Kaitlyn Brink, Sarah Wierks, Kayli Sartori), and were even forced to bench Wierks for much of the third quarter after she picked up four in the first half. Given the situation the Cascades’ deep bench became a real asset down the stretch as 10 players were given playing time.
“The girls really locked into the game plan tonight and executed at both ends of the floor,” said UFV head coach Al Tuchscherer. “Aieisha was fantastic and just put us on her back tonight. It was a great effort from a great, veteran player.”
The Cascades will play again tomorrow, once again at the Saville Centre, at 4 pm PST against the Huskies. Watch online at canadawest.tv
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