Sparked by an outstanding performance off the bench from Veronica Kobes, the University of the Fraser Valley women's basketball team earned an impressive 73-71 win over the Victoria Vikes on the road Saturday evening.

It was a bounce-back of whiplash-inducing proportions for the Cascades, who had fallen 91-58 to the Vikes on Friday. The visitors gave a much better account of themselves in the rematch, buoyed by the play of Kobes, who racked up a career-high 17 points and six rebounds in just 14 minutes. The third-year science major from Abbotsford, B.C. scored 15 of her points in the second half, and five of her rebounds came at the offensive end, keeping crunch-time possessions alive for UFV.

Four other Cascades scored in double figures – Amanda Thompson (15), Kate Head (13), Taylor Claggett (12) and Madeline Beerwald – as the UFV squad improved to 10-6, good for sixth place in Canada West. The Vikes (8-6) are tied for eighth.

"I'm really happy with how the girls regrouped today," Cascades head coach Al Tuchscherer said. "We had a productive video session, and I don't think they really liked what they saw. They came out with a renewed determination tonight, and it was nice to see that pay off for them.

"For us, it usually starts at the defensive end of the floor. I thought we were a lot more active right from the beginning of the game, and we played a lot tougher. We did a way better job of controlling the boards tonight, and that was key to our success."

The Cascades hung tough with the Vikes throughout the first half – Head scored seven points in the first quarter, but the UVic built a 19-17 lead, and they expanded it to 37-33 at the half.

The Vikes opened the third quarter on an 8-1 run, capped by an Amira Giannattasio jump shot, to claim their largest lead of the night at 45-34. But Kobes scored seven straight UFV points, and the Cascades would eventually draw even at 53-53 after a basket, plus the foul, from Thompson.

Beerwald tied the game 57-57 at the start of the fourth and from there a pair of free throws from Head combined with a bucket from each of Claggett and Kobes lifted the Cascades to their largest lead, up by six, 65-59, with six minutes to go.

The teams traded baskets down the stretch, with the Vikes drawing even at 67-67 after a pair of Calli McMillan free throws. But jump shots from Head and Beerwald, and an offensive board and putback from Kobes, put UFV up 73-68 with just over a minute left in regulation.

UVic's Ashlyn Day scored to cut the deficit to 73-70, and after UFV came up empty on its next possession, Thompson fouled Aleah Ashlee on a three-point attempt with 1.9 seconds left on the clock. Ashlee made the first free throw, but missed the next two, and Alexis Worrell grabbed the rebound to seal the victory.

The Cascades overcame a huge night from Giannattasio (28 points), and Day and Katie Langdon chipped in with 10 points apiece for the Vikes.

Tuchscherer lauded the pivotal performance of Kobes.

"Obviously she was pretty key for us tonight," he said. "She came in off the bench and right away, she had an impact on the game. She uses her length (6'2") very well, and she picked up a lot of offensive rebounds to keep possessions alive for us. She keeps getting better every day. Her skill level gets stronger, and her IQ keeps improving."

The Cascades head into their bye week on a high note, and return to action Jan. 25-26 with a doubleheader at home vs. the Calgary Dinos.

- with files from Ali Baggott, Victoria Vikes communications