Another winning weekend has the University of the Fraser Valley women’s basketball team riding high in the Canada West standings.
The Cascades bounced the University of British Columbia-Okanagan Heat twice on the road to improve to 15-3, tying them with the Regina Cougars and Calgary Dinos for the best record in Canada West.
Friday night’s game was close at the half, with UFV leading the Heat by just three points at the break. But the Cascades blew it open in the third quarter, out-scoring UBC-O 22-9 to put the game away.
UFV cruised to a 73-58 final.
Chilliwack’s Nicole Wierks did the most offensive damage with 18 points, adding five rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Mission’s Aieisha Luyken added 14 points. Chilliwack’s Sarah Wierks drained 10 points and pulled down 15 rebounds as UFV recorded 47 total boards.
Saturday’s rematch was a lot closer, with the Cascades winning 69-62.
UBC-O came out on fire, leading 18-2 early in the first quarter.
The Heat led 41-34 at halftime. But Chilliwack’s Kayli Sartori led the comeback charge, finishing the game with a team-high 20 points, plus six rebounds and three steals.
Nicole Wierks posted nine points, three steals and three assists. As a team, UFV forced UBC-O to commit 24 turnovers and recorded 14 thefts.
“A character win for us tonight after going down so big in the first half, and while I didn’t like our start, I really like the poise we had in coming back,” said coach Al Tuchscherer. “UBC-O shot the ball incredibly well this weekend, and I am really impressed with the energy and fight they brought to the game.”
The Cascades host Thompson Rivers University Friday and Saturday night at the Envision Athletic Centre in Abbotsford.
Get information online at ufv.ca/athletics.