The University of the Fraser Valley women's basketball team started slowly on the road but found their rhythm as the game wore on, ultimately earning a 75-50 blowout win over the Thompson Rivers WolfPack.

Rookie point guard Nikki Cabuco sparked the Cascades off the bench, racking up a career-high 16 points to go with four steals, and Taylor Claggett posted a double-double (12 points, 10 rebounds) as UFV extended its win streak to eight games.

The Cascades (13-4) and WolfPack (7-10) renew hostilities on Saturday (5 p.m., CanadaWest.tv presented by Co-op).

"I just think the pace of the game in the first half was maybe a little too frantic," Cascades head coach Al Tuchscherer said afterward. "They got us into shooting some early shots we probably shouldn't have taken. At halftime, we tried to calm down and be a little more patient offensively, and that really paid off in the second half."

The Cascades struggled in the first quarter, shooting 26.7 per cent (4-of-15) from the field, and found themselves level with the WolfPack at 14-14 heading into the second.
 

?? WBB | Classic @taylorclaggett -- she gets rolling in transition, and finishes through contact for the and-one! pic.twitter.com/AGMIoqYCHb

— UFV Cascades (@UFVCascades) February 1, 2020

UFV found some traction late in the second quarter, reeling off an 11-1 run capped by Maddy Gobeil's steal-and-score breakaway layup, and they took a 30-22 lead into the break.
 

?? WBB | @maddygobeil, playing in her hometown of Kamloops, comes up with a sweet steal-and-score to push the UFV lead to double digits! pic.twitter.com/2CPYcQEAuo

— UFV Cascades (@UFVCascades) February 1, 2020

In the third quarter, an 11-2 run to close the frame – capped by Cabuco's triple – pushed the UFV lead to 17, and they rolled from there.

Cabuco finished 4-for-5 from the field (with a pair of three-pointers) and 6-for-7 from the free throw line on her way to a game-high point total. Fellow rookie Deanna Tuchscherer also hit double digits with 10 points. UFV dominated the boards, out-rebounding TRU 54-36.

Jordan Robb (11) and Emma Piggin (10) scored in double figures for the WolfPack.

"Nikki was fantastic tonight," Tuchscherer enthused. "She came off the bench and played some great D. She's a player that can really play with some defensive intelligence that can lead to some easy hoops at the other end. I was really happy for Nik."
 

?? WBB Postgame // Fraser Valley Cascades (@UFVCascades) head coach Al Tuchscherer pic.twitter.com/QI7BLZiM1a

— TRU WolfPack ?? (@GoTRUWolfPack) February 1, 2020

BOUNCE PASSES: The game marked the return of Cascades rookie guard Gobeil to her hometown. The South Kamloops Secondary grad was playing her first Canada West contest at home since leading the South Kam Titans to back to back provincial AA championships and had a large cheering section. She finished with four points, three rebounds and two blocks.

- with files from Larry Read, TRU Athletics