WBB: Offensive struggles continue for Timberwolves in loss to UFV Cascades

Women's Basketball
November 19, 2022

The UNBC Timberwolves Women’s Basketball team continued to struggle offensively, shooting 26.2% from the field and losing 78-45 to the University of Fraser Valley Cascades on Saturday, November 19th, 2022 in Abbotsford, BC.

In the first quarter, Nikki Cabuco came out firing, picking up where she left off on Friday with an early trey for UFV. Sveta Boykova was assertive for the TWolves, playing the role of distributor finding Jenna Korolek and Sarah Kuklisin for easy buckets on cuts. UNBC’s defense did well to clamp down on the dynamic Cascades, and a late Alina Shakirova floater gave the TWolves a 15-9 lead after ten minutes.

Maddy Gobeil made a pair of jumpers in the opening minute of the second quarter as UFV aimed to cut into the moderate deficit. A Bernie Lada trey gave Fraser Valley the lead, as the two teams battle for control of the game’s momentum. Cabuco continued to play extremely physical defense on Shakirova, and the referee’s allowed the contact, making life extremely difficult for the UNBC senior. Kuklisin continued to press the issue with her speed, cutting the UFV lead to three points with a layup late in the quarter.

When the buzzer sounded for halftime, Fraser Valley held a 29-22 lead, concluding 20 minutes of tough defense and missed opportunities. UNBC’s work at the defensive end was stout, holding UFV to just 28.2% shooting. However, they made just nine of their 36 shots at the offensive end, including going 0-for-11 from beyond the arc.

In the third quarter, the physical play continued, as the Cascades stretched their lead on a pair of Cabuco threes and a Deanna Tuchscherer jumper. UNBC dug in, and freshman Amrit Manak came off the bench to make a trey of her own, while Kuklisin got to the rim with a slick drive through the big trees in the paint. With their lead at a dozen points, UFV pushed the action to end the frame, using a Leda triple and finding themselves up 53-37 with one quarter to go.

UFV was able to continue to slowly build on their lead as the young Timberwolves laboured to generate substantial opportunities to cut into the margin. From beyond the arc, the Cascades continued to pour it on, getting makes from Google Sidhu and Maddy Gobeil, while Manak proved to be the only TWolf able to find her stroke from range.

Eventually, the clock read zero and the Cascades had secured a 78-45 win, thanks to a 28 – 9 margin in points off turnovers. The TWolves shot just 26.2% from the field, and 13.6% from beyond the arc.

No Timberwolf reached double-digits in scoring, with Kuklisin and Boykova each scoring nine points. Gobeil led the way for UFV with 17 points and five assists, while Cabuco added 14 on four three-pointers made.

The victory improves UFV’s record to 6-0, while the Timberwolves fall to 0-6 on the season.