The UFV women's basketball team took an international trip to Australia last month to experience the culture, and of course play some basketball.

UFV head coach Al Tuchscherer noted the trip was an extremely valuable opportunity for his program.

"We really want the people that go through our program to a have a great holistic experience. Being competitive on the court is for sure a priority, but we often say there is more to basketball than basketball. Basketball has opened so many doors for all of us, so this trip can highlight that aspect of the game. There is an appreciation for planning and the large scope of an endeavour like travelling to the other side of the world."

"There is the obvious benefit of experiencing what other parts of the world have to offer.  Some of the international trips we've taken in the past have challenged us from a language, culture, or dining experience and this trip was a little less of that. But we made sure that the team experienced what Melbourne and Sydney had to offer and learned a little bit of history, geography, culture of the area.  At the same time meeting and competing against people who share a similar passion for sport that they do. The trip was outstanding and I'm sure will be a life memory for many of our girls."
 
The team played a total of four matches, picking up three victories and an overtime loss in their time overseas.

Game 1:
In their first game in Australia on August 27 the Cascades defeated the Ballarat Miners 97-45. UFV was in control from start to finish as they claimed 32 rebounds, 15 steals, and six blocks in the win. Maddy Gobeil had 22 points on 8-11 shooting from the field, while Fania Taylor posted 18 points and seven assists.

Game 2:
UFV continued their trip with an 87-49 win over the Bulleen Boomers. The Cascades won each quarter, including a 28-13 margin in the second, and a 29-9 margin in the fourth. UFV shot 40 per cent from three point range, and had 23 total assists on their way to the win. Gobeil again led all scorers with 18 points, while Esther Allison had 17.

Game 3:
Gobeil had another strong game, as the Cascades defeated the University of Sydney 92-89 on September 3. The fifth-year guard led the way with 27 points, seven assists, and eight rebounds. Julia Tuchscherer added 16 points and nine rebounds, while Deanna Tuchscherer had 15 points.

Game 4:
The fourth game on September 5 saw the Cascades fall in overtime to the Sydney Flames WNBL Academy 87-85. Gobeil led the Cascades with 27 points, nine assists, eight rebounds, and five steals, while J. Tuchscherer had 23 points and 15 boards.

Coach Al Tuchscherer noted that the experience was great way for the team to get ready for the upcoming Canada West season.

"Australia is a women's basketball powerhouse, and we experienced some great basketball particularly in Sydney.  We had the opportunity to play the Australia University champions, Sydney University, and the WNBL's Sydney Flames academy team. Both teams had combinations of veteran pros, national team players, and future pros.  They were fit, long, and had great basketball IQ.  It was a great experience playing against them, and we were pleased with our team's performance in the win and a competitive OT loss."

"It's a very motivating way to start your season. Every day we would wake up early and train in state-of-the art training facilities, get a quick food stop and get on with our sightseeing or whatever adventure we had planned for the day.  It was a very special experience."

The Cascades now return home to get set for their 2024-25 Canada West season, which gets underway on October 31 against the UBC Thunderbirds. Season tickets are now on sale, and can be purchased by going to gocascades.ca/tickets.

The Cascades will play their first home exhibition games of the year on Friday at 4pm and Saturday at 7pm as they take on the Calgary Dinos at the UFV Athletic Centre.

To keep up with the action throughout the season, follow the Cascades on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter at @ufvcascades