The University of the Fraser Valley basketball teams struggled on their toughest road trip of the season, dropping all four games against nationally ranked foes from the universities of Alberta and Saskatchewan.
The women's match-ups were particularly high-profile, as the Cascades were a perfect 6-0 and ranked No. 3 in the nation heading into the trip. The Alberta Pandas, meanwhile, were ranked No. 4, while the Saskatchewan Huskies were No. 5.
UFV came out on the wrong end of a sweep, though. A slow start offensively vs. Alberta (the Cascades shot just 28.6 per cent in the first half) paved the way for a 73-61 loss in Edmonton on Friday, despite 14 points from Kayli Sartori and 13 from Shayna Litman. Star centre Sarah Wierks fouled out in just 11 minutes of court time.
On Saturday, the Huskies lit up the Cascades' conference-leading defence, shooting 55.3 per cent from the floor in a 77-57 victory. Nataliia Gavryliuk, with 12 points, was the lone UFV player to score in double figures.
On Tuesday, the Cascades women slipped from third to sixth in the latest edition of the CIS national rankings. (The complete top-10 list is at the bottom of this page).
The men's squad (3-5) fared no better on the road swing, dropping a 94-66 decision to the No.4-ranked Alberta Golden Bears and losing 83-62 to the No. 5 Huskies.
Jasper Moedt was the Cascades' top scorer both nights, scoring 12 points vs. Alberta and 17 vs. Saskatchewan.
• The Cascades hoopsters host UBC on Friday (women 6 p.m., men 8 p.m.) and Saturday (women 5 p.m., men 7 p.m.) at the Envision Athletic Centre.
CIS WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TOP 10
(regular season record) / votes (first-place votes) / (previous rankings)
1. Saint Mary’s (6-0) / 511 points (38) / (1)
2. Windsor (7-1) / 478 (5) / (2)
3. Alberta (6-2) / 424 / (4)
4. Saskatchewan (7-1) / 391 / (5)
5. Regina (6-2) / 330 / (6)
6. Fraser Valley (6-2) / 302 / (3)
7. McGill (3-0) / 268 / (8)
8. Ottawa (6-2) / 193 / (7)
9. Concordia (1-2) / 140 / (9)
10. Wilfrid Laurier (7-1) / 100 / (NR)