Abbotsford, B.C. – The University of the Fraser Valley Cascades fell short 58-80 in their opening game of the season against the UBC Thunderbirds on a gritty opening Thursday evening. The intensity of the game became a scrappy, physical, fight at the UFV Athletic Centre.

With the win UBC moves to 1-0 on the season, while UFV drops to 0-1. 
 
How It Happened: 
UBC took an early 6-point lead with Mona Berlitz scoring early and leading the rest of the Thunderbirds with fast transitions. Julia Tuchsherer broke through and drove the way for the Cascades while they battled in every play.

UBC led by as many as 15 in the first half, but a strong Cascades third quarter, boosted by seven points from Maddy Gobeil, and five apiece from Bernie Leda and J. Tuchscherer, brought UFV back within a single point at 47-46.

That would be a close as the Cascades would get, as the Thunderbirds opened up another run in the fourth to extend the lead to 22.

UFV had 3 players foul out by the end of the contest.
 
Top Performers:
Tuchscherer led UFV with 17 points and 7 rebounds. Gobeil finished with 11 points and 2 rebounds, while Leda had 10 points and 2 rebounds.
 
Berlitz had 21 points and 6 rebounds.  Close behind was Keira Daly with 17 points and 11 fourth quarter points from Olivia Weekes saw her finish with 16.
 
Quotable:
UFV forward Julia Tuchscherer

"In the first half I don't think we really executed our game plan. We pulled it back together there in the third but it wasn't enough."

"That third quarter shows how we can play. Our team knows we can play like that, and the other three quarters we just weren't ourselves. We just have to keep it simple, that's where we play some good basketball."

Up Next:
The Cascades now head on the road to finish off their opening weekend of games, as they head to Victoria for a battle with the Vikes on Saturday at 5pm. The game can be seen live and on demand at gocascades.ca