After a pair of wins against Trinity Western University on Friday (Feb. 9) and Saturday (Feb. 10), the University of the Fraser Valley women’s basketball team has finished third in regular-season play, according to Canada West standings.
The top four teams receive a bye at the upcoming Canada West Women’s Basketball Championships, with the Cascades’ 17-3 record good enough to join the University of Saskatchewan, University of British Columbia and University of Calgary in the top spots.
University of the Fraser Valley hosts the tournament from Feb. 21 to 25. The hosts will await to see who they play as a result of the 11 vs. 6 matchup on the first day. The sixth seed is the University of Alberta, and the 11th is Mount Royal University. The Cascades’ first game on their home court will be Feb. 22.
On Friday night at the UFV Athletic Centre, the ladies got off to a hot start. A 20-3 run to begin the game put them in great position to win.
The Spartans cut the deficit to 11 during the first half, but UFV never let them get closer. Midway through the third, the team led by 22 points and cruised to victory with a final score of 66-46.
Fourth-year student Maddy Gobeil led the way for the Cascades with 19 points and four assists. Deanna Tuchscherer had 15 points, while Gurveer “Google” Sidhu added 11 points, four rebounds and two assists off the bench.
Saturday night saw much of the same dominance. After going up 19-9 in the first quarter, TWU saw their first opportunity all weekend to take the lead. After a nine-point run from TWU tied the game at 23, Esther Allison and Natalie Rathler combined for three buckets to give UFV the 30-26 lead heading into the half.
Gobeil had a dominant second half and ended the game with 21 points in 39 minutes played. UFV went on to win 63-50 in their final regular-season game.
Natalie Rathler put up 10 points – including a late jumper – in her final regular-season game in a UFV uniform. The fifth-year senior was honoured after the game for her commitment to the program.
“I think we still have so much to do as a team, and playoffs are just starting,” Rathler said. “That’s our focus as a team, and that’s been my focus. Tonight was a little emotional just having the recognition of it being the last home regular-season game, but I think we are all in the mindset of prepping for what is to come next in playoffs.”
Visit gocascades.ca/canadawestwbb to follow the Cascades’ quest to win the Canada West title.
UFV men’s basketball beat the Spartans by a dominate score of 93-67 on Friday. Dario Lopez led the team with 21 points and 12 rebounds. They outscored their opponents in every quarter, making the Cascades one step closer to clinching a playoff spot.
Despite a 27 point game by senior Dylan Kinley on Saturday, a buzzer beater shocked the Cascades as they fell 77-76. The loss now means they have to await the results of rescheduled games between Thompson Rivers University and the University of Victoria on Feb.14 and 15.
TRU needs two wins to tie UFV in the standings. Victoria is currently top seed, but will be looking for at least one win to not fall into a tie-breaker with the University of Calgary and University of Winnipeg.
If UFV makes it in as the 11th seed, they would play the University of Regina at the Canada West Men’s Basketball Championships in Manitoba Feb. 21 to 25.
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