The University of the Fraser Valley women's basketball team brings an intriguing blend of experience and youth into the 2019-20 Canada West regular season, which tips off this weekend.

The Cascades open on the road, facing the Winnipeg Wesmen on Friday (4 p.m. Pacific time) and Saturday (5 p.m. PT). Both games – as with all CW regular-season and playoff contests – will be webcast at CanadaWest.tv, and fans can use the promo code "UFV2019" for discounts on all-access and sport passes. 

The following week the UFV squad is on a bye, before hosting their home openers Nov. 15-16 vs. the UBC Okanagan Heat.

CASCADES WBB ROSTER
CASCADES WBB SCHEDULE

This year's edition of the Cascades will be led by its lone fifth-year senior – forward Taylor Claggett. The Mission, B.C. product was a Canada West third team all-star last season after finishing fifth in the conference in scoring (18.4 points per game) and 11th in rebounding (8.4 per game). Claggett comes into the season ranked fourth on UFV women's basketball's all-time scoring list with 1,083 points, and has a chance to climb that list with another strong campaign.

"Since she entered our league Taylor's been a high-level scorer and rebounder, and her ability to draw fouls is unparalleled," Cascades head coach Al Tuchscherer noted. "We're looking forward to her having another great year.

"Taylor brings four years of great play and experience, and she has an opportunity this season to mentor our younger players and help our program have team success that endures."

Fourth-year wing Amanda Thompson (10.5 points per game) was the Cascades' second-leading scorer last season, shooting 37.9 per cent from three-point range while playing elite defence. She, along with fellow fourth-years Victoria Jacobse, Jessica Zawada and Veronica Kobes, third-year Alexis Worrell, and sophomores Natalie Rathler, Elissa Vreugdenhil, Madison Draayers and Madeline Beerwald, will join Claggett in providing veteran leadership this season.

The Cascades also welcome a five-player recruiting class which is as highly touted as any in program history. Point guards Maddy Gobeil and Nikki Cabuco, shooting guards Jessica Parker and Lauryn Walker, and forward Deanna Tuchscherer (Al's daughter) will look to make an impact as rookies.

"Our young players are extremely talented, and very passionate about the game of basketball," Al Tuchscherer noted. "It's a good combination to have, and their contributions are going to be immediate and we hope very impactful."

The Cascades are coming off a 2018-19 season which saw them post a 10-10 record (10th in CW) and suffer a first-round playoff loss to the Victoria Vikes. If UFV's returnees are able to provide strong leadership and help the younger cohort understand what it takes to win in Canada West, Tuchscherer – heading into his 18th year at the helm of the program – likes their chances of improving on last year's mark.

"We've been saying right from the beginning to the team – if we can take this group of core veterans and blend them together with our younger kids, we can have a really special team here," Tuchscherer said. "The veterans need to be our guiding, stabilizing force, and the young players need to bring that youthful energy and excitement. That can be a really exciting combination."