Abbotsford, B.C. – The University of Victoria women's basketball team once again battled the University of the Fraser Valley to the end, but this time it was the Cascades that took the 68-62 win, Nov. 23 at the UFV Athletic Centre to close the weekend.
 
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Vikes hold lead throughout first half

• The Vikes jumped to a 7-0 lead to open the game, using a jumper and three-pointer from Tana Pankratz and an Abigail Becker layup for the 7-0 lead over the first two minutes of play.
• Victoria remained in front in the seven-point range until the final two minutes of the quarter. Holding the Cascades scoreless, the Vikes took advantage with an 11-0 run, capped by a Pankratz three with four seconds on the clock to give the Vikes a 30-13 lead after the opening 10 minutes of action.
• The Cascades scored the first five points of the second quarter, bringing the score to 30-18 in favour of the Vikes 90 seconds in. Another quick set of points for UFV brought Victoria's lead down to nine, but was met with a Makena Anderson three to bring the Vikes' lead back to double-digits, 34-22, with 6:25 to go.
• The Vikes and Cascades went back-and-forth for the remainder of the quarter, with UFV scoring the final bucket of the frame to send the game into halftime with the Vikes ahead, 40-31.

Cascades best Vikes in second half

• The Vikes' lead slowly shrunk over the third quarter of play, with the Cascades hitting a three with 2:27 to go to pull back within two, 46-44. However, two-straight jumpers by Meike Boerstra gave the Vikes a bit of breathing room, 50-44, with 1:40 to go.
• Boerstra hit the final shot of the third quarter to give Victoria the 52-45 lead heading in to the final frame.
• A scoreless stretch from the Vikes in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter gave UFV the opportunity to go on an 8-0 run, ending with a three-pointer to take the 53-52 lead with 7:49 to go. Boerstra made her fourth jumper of the night in the next Vikes possession to put the visitors back on top, 54-53 with 7:31 to go.
• The two sides went back-and-forth over the next three minutes until two quick baskets from the Cascades put the home side ahead by four, 65-61, with 4:23 to play.
• Both the Vikes and Cascades went scoreless for the next four minutes, until a pair of Cascade free throws ended the drought, 67-61. Pankratz then added a free throw to the Vikes' score, 67-62, but the Cascades would add more point to take the 68-62 win. 

WORTH NOTING

• Abigail Becker led the Vikes with 19 points, adding six rebounds, two blocks, one assist, and one steal.
• Tana Pankratz finished with 15 points and seven rebounds for the Vikes, while Makena Anderson tallied 12 points, three rebounds, and three assists.
• Mimi Sigue led the Vikes with 10 rebounds, and tied for team-highs with three assists and two steals.
• After the split series, the Vikes sit at 4-4 on the year, while Fraser Valley moves to 6-2. 

UP NEXT
The Vikes return to play in January 2025, hosting Trinity Western, Jan. 10-11. Get your tickets here or tune in on Canada West TV presented by BioSteel.