The University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) Cascades women’s basketball team (WBB) made a strong impression in Waterloo, Ontario at the 55th annual Don McCrae Naismith Classic on Oct. 17-19. The Cascades captured the tournament title by dominating all three of their games, extending their winning streak to five as they gear up for the regular season.
The tournament victory featured commanding wins over the Windsor Lancers (64-51), the Waterloo Warriors (64-55), and the Memorial Sea-Hawks (66-52). Fourth-year forward Julia Tuchscherer was named the tournament’s most valuable player for her standout performances spanning all three games — featuring a 21 point performance against the Lancers, while shooting 9-14 from the field.
“It feels good ending pre-season with a win,” Tuchscherer reflected. “I think it’s important to have a big weekend like [this in] Waterloo to build confidence as a team and as individuals. Especially after having a slow start to pre-season, it’s nice to see everything come together before we start conference play.”
The Cascades defensive prowess emerged as the foundation of their tournament dominance, applying relentless pressure every time they stepped on the floor. Over three games, the team collected an astounding 44 steals, forcing their opponents to turn over the ball 61 times — numbers indicative of potential to be on a shortlist of defence powerhouses across the country this season.
The chaotic nature of the Cascades’ defensive pressure dismantled their opponents. Inhibiting the opposition’s abilities to get consistent looks and control the pace, they were forced to adapt among the havoc induced by the Cascades. Further setting the standard for the Cascades’ style of play, fourth-year forward Esther Allison emphasized the team’s unwavering commitment to their physical ethos.
The dedication to physical play was also on full display on the glass, as UFV crashed with unrelenting intent throughout all three matchups. In the final against Memorial, the Cascades garnered a weekend high of 35 rebounds, highlighted by Allison’s 13. Their dominance on the boards throughout the latter half of the pre-season has created critical second chance opportunities, further contributing to their offensive output.
What was excitingly apparent were the contributions across the board from the rotational players and beyond. “Everyone stepped it up and did their role,” Tuchscherer noted. “There was a consistent effort from the entire team throughout the three games. The new players were able to come in and make an impact with solid minutes as well.”
Tuscherer’s words confirmed that the wins in Waterloo served as another stepping stone in uncovering and fully embracing the team’s desired core identity. “We needed to get back to playing our style of basketball again,” Tuchscherer explained. “Our defence is what fuels our offence, and that really showed through the weekend. When we’re locked in defensively, everything flows on offence, and that’s when we’re at our best.”
With the regular season on the horizon, Tuchscherer and Allison both acknowledged the team’s commitment to consistent growth and development. “Continuing to play our style of basketball for a consistent 40 minutes is something we’re still working on,” Tuchscherer said. “We need to start strong and stay focused on what we can control.”
The Cascades opened the regular season on Halloween night, falling to the #2 ranked in the conference, the UBC Thunderbirds. They got back in the win column two nights later against the University of Victoria, winning 57-52. The Cascades start the regular season 1-1, ready to make a statement as a unified and dynamic contender in Canada West.
