Abbotsford, BC – Natalie Rathler got the dagger, as the USPORTS No. 7 ranked UFV Cascades women's basketball team picked up the 57-51 victory over the No. 3 ranked University of Alberta Pandas on Saturday evening.

With the win, the Cascades move to 11-3, while the Pandas drop to 10-4 on the season. 

As it happened: 
The Cascades opened the game on a 9-3 run capped off by a Rathler jumper. The teams traded buckets back and forth until a pair of free throws from Rathler increased that advantage to eight. Five points by Ella Rees gave Alberta a boost, and they levelled the game at 23 just before the half.

Neither team was able to take control of the game in the third, with the lead being traded multiple times. With under five to play, Bernie Leda hit a three to give the Cascades a six-point lead and Maddy Gobeil followed it up with a jumper of her own to make it an eight point game. Claire Signatovich and Shae McCusker answered back for the Pandas to cut the UFV lead to just two with 48 seconds left. After the teams traded possessions, Rathler battled through contact and got the lay-in to fall while being fouled. The resulting free throw was never in doubt from Rathler, and put the game out of reach.

Top performers: 
Deanna Tuchscherer paced the Cascades with 17 points on the night, while Gobeil had 12, and Julia Tuchscherer added eight points and 14 rebounds. Rathler stepped up in the big moments for UFV, picking up seven points off the bench.

Jenna Harpe had a big night for Alberta scoring 20, while Signatovich had eight. Points and 13 rebounds in the contest.

Quotable:
Cascades fifth-year Natalie Rathler

"This game really drove home that weren't a team to take lightly. We can compete with the top teams, and we are a top team and that is a mindset we have to continue with moving forward."

"It was exciting to have that finish off the game for us, but everything that happened in the game was a team effort. It was a team win." - Rathler on the late three-point play to clinch it.

Up next:
The Cascades are home again next Friday and Saturday to take on the Brandon Bobcats. UFV Students attend for free with a valid student ID. Public tickets can be purchased online at gocascades.ca/tickets. The game can also be seen live on canadawest.tv.