After starting slowly for a second straight night against the UNBC Timberwolves, the University of the Fraser Valley women's basketball team found its form and lived up to their lofty advance billing as the nation's No. 2-ranked team.
 
The Cascades (6-0) trailed by six at the end of the first quarter, but dominated from that juncture, cruising past the T-Wolves (0-6) by a 78-45 score at the UFV Athletic Centre.
 
UFV had struggled with ball security during Friday's 68-57 win over UNBC, coughing up 33 turnovers. They were much better in that department on Saturday, giving the ball away just 13 times. 
 
UFV's backcourt was outstanding – starters Maddy Gobeil (17 points, five assists) and Nikki Cabuco (14 points, three assists) led the way offensively, and rookie Bernadet Leda chipped in with 12 points off the bench. 
 
The T-Wolves were limited to 26.2 per cent shooting from the field and did not have a double-digit scorer – Sveta Boykova's nine points topped the scoring list for UNBC.
 
"We didn't play well as a team last night, and that was the main focus for us today," Gobeil said afterward. 
 
"At the end of the day, I think we did come out and play the way we wanted to play. We have a lot still to work on, but we took a couple steps back last night and we took some steps forward today."
 
The Cascades' offence took time to hit its stride on Saturday in the face of determined defence from the visitors. Sveta Boykova scored seven points in the first quarter as the T-Wolves grabbed a 15-9 lead.
 
Gobeil lit the fuse for her squad in the second quarter, ramping up her aggression in both the halfcourt and transition. The third-year point guard opened the frame with two quick buckets to ignite a 9-0 Cascade run, and she would finish with nine points in the quarter as the hosts opened a 29-22 lead at the half.
 
The Cascades carried that momentum into the second half, and eight third-quarter points from Cabuco helped push the lead to 53-37 heading to the fourth. The hosts continued to pour it on from there, stretching the margin beyond 30 points. 
 
Deanna Tuchscherer stuffed the stat sheet for UFV, posting eight points, seven rebounds and a game-high nine assists, while Natalie Rathler registered eight points and nine boards.
 
The Cascades hit the road next weekend to face the UBC Okanagan Heat, with the T-Wolves host the Calgary Dinos.