Dan Kinvig,
Black Press
If the University of the Fraser Valley women’s basketball team is looking for a theme song, Takin’ Care of Business by Bachman-Turner Overdrive would be a natural fit.
Like the Cascade men, the UFV women find themselves in ninth place with four games to go. But at 8-12, Al Tuchscherer’s squad has firm control of its playoff destiny.
The Cascades are currently trailing Thompson Rivers University (9-13) for the final Canada West post-season berth, but they have two games in hand on the WolfPack.
Given that they’re finishing up against lowly Lethbridge (4-16) and Brandon (0-20), UFV also stands a reasonable chance of overtaking seventh-place Calgary (10-10).
Tuchscherer is usually an understated fellow, but the coach wasn’t afraid to say he still likes his team’s playoff chances following a pair of weekend losses to a very good Winnipeg squad.
“We’re going to take care of business – we’ll be there,” Tuchscherer promised. “If we do what we’ve been doing the past month, and play like we’ve been playing, we’re going to be fine. And we’re going to be scary when we get into the playoffs.”
Winnipeg, ranked ninth in the nation, got a first-hand glimpse at how scary the youthful Cascades can be when they’re clicking on all cylinders.
UFV pushed Winnipeg to overtime in Friday’s opener, ultimately dropping a 79-70 decision.
Chilliwack’s Nicole Wierks led the team with 15 points, followed by another Chilliwack native, Alyssa Gaukel, with 13.
Mission’s Aieisha Luyken had 12 and Winnipeg’s Tessa Klassen had 11 in UFV’s balanced attack.
On Saturday, Winnipeg shot the lights out, hitting a sizzling 12 of 22 attempts from beyond the three-point line in a dominant 75-47 win.
Amy Ogidan racked up 24 points for Winnipeg, while Wierks, with 10 points, was the lone Cascade to score in double digits.
