The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack women's basketball team will have their hands full as they continue their quest for a playoff position in Canada West play.

The WolfPack  (7-9) will be hosting the University of the Fraser Valley Cascades (12-4) in their final two home games of the 2019-20 season.   The Cascades have won their last seven starts and have solidified a playoff position.  Pretty impressive as head coach Al Tuchsherer (now in his 18^th season) has put together a very young but talented crew which features only one fifth year player.

That fifth year is Taylor Claggett (forward, Mission, BC) who earlier this month set the Canada West free throw record (500 and 721 attempts) and became Fraser Valley's all-time leading scorer (1,324) in a 75-71 win over UNBC (Jan 20^th).

UFV's roster features South Kamloops graduate Maddy Gobiel who led the Titans to a provincial championship in 2018-19.  She was the Kamloops Sports Council's female athlete of the year for 2019.

Friday night is "Donor night", where individuals and companies who contribute to scholarships and bursaries are being recognized.  There will also be a formal announcement of the "WolfPack 50" fundraising effort.    Saturday night is dedicated to "Alumni" where those who played for the Cariboo College Gold Rush, University College of the Cariboo Sun Demons and WolfPack will be recognized.  As well, before the contest, the team will honor its current crop of fifth year players: Emma Piggin (Kamloops, BC) and Leilani Carney ,Burnaby, BC).

Piggin enters the weekend third in TRU history in blocks (57), rebounds (562), fifth in rebounds per game (5.9) and steals (128), sixth in assists (128) and free throw per cent (180-263,71.5%), seventh in points (935), points per game  (9.7), field goals (528), ninth in games started (71) and tenth in free throws (188)

Carney holds the TRU record for best assist/turnover ratio (172-121,1.4 %), third in field goals (137) fifth in steals (128), games started (96 games, 85 starts), three point field goal per cent (137-432, 31.7 %), seventh in minutes played (2669) and assists (172), ninth in minutes played per game (27.8) and tenth in field goals (249).
 
 
HISTORY

The WolfPack have lost the last four meetings against the Cascades. Last year in Abbotsford, UFV won the first night (Oct 26, 2018) by a score of 62-50. They led 45-23 at the half but the Pack outscored UFV 16-5 in the fourth quarter. Michelle Bos had 15 points for TRU. Claggett led UFV with 21.

The next night (Oct 27, 2018),  Fraser Valley was victorious 58-44 behind Claggett's 19 points.   Jordon Haggerty had 13 points for TRU with Carney chipping in with 12.

The last time the Cascades were at the Tournament Capital Center was the weekend of January 12-13, 2018.   Fraser Valley won 59-53 on the first night where the Pack were up 21-9 after the first quarter.  Claggett had 17 points.  Haggerty and Emily Vilac had 10 a piece for TRU.

The second night (Jan 13, 2018),  UFV was a 76-67 winner.  The teams were tied at 20 after the first quarter. Fraser valley outscored TRU 23-7 in the third quarter with the WolfPack reversing things 24-19 in the fourth.   Sara Simovic had 24 points for Fraser Valley with Claggett garnering 17.    Emma Piggin and Mikayla Hoey had 13 for the WolfPack.  Megan Rouault had 11 coming off the bench.
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PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Thompson Rivers:
Leilani Carney (5^th year, guard, Burnaby, BC): leads in minutes played (34.6) and points per game (12.9), tied for team lead in blocks (0.4)
Emma Piggin (5^th year, guard, Kamloops, BC): leads in rebounding (6.6), tied for lead in blocks (0.4) and steals (1.5),second in minutes played (29.8) and points (12.9).
 Jordon Haggerty: (3^rd year, guard, Saskatoon, SK):is third in Canada West record books for free throws made in a single game (17) and fourth in free throw attempts in a single game (21) in a game vs Mount Royal earlier this year at the TCC.  She is  second in blocks (1.4), tied for second in scoring (11.4), fourth in minutes played (22.8)
Megan Rouault (3^rd year, guard, Vernon, BC): third on team in minutes played (24.9), second in rebounds (4.3), tied for team lead in steals (1.5) and tied for second in blocks (0.3)

FRASER VALLEY:

Deanna Tuchscherer (1^st year, guard/forward, Chilliwack, BC): daughter of the coach turned down NCAA Div I offers to stay at home. Second in minutes played on the Cascades (29.1), second in team scoring (15.6 points), rebounding (6.1) and blocks (0.3)
Taylor Claggett: leads UFV in scoring (20.2 points), minutes played (35.3) and rebounds (10.4).
Maddy Gobeil  (1^st year, guard, Kamloops, BC): third on UFV in minutes (25.5) points per game (9) and fourth in rebounds (4.3)
Jessica Parker (1^st year, guard, Princeton, BC): third in rebounds (4.8).
Nikki Cabuco (1^st year, guard, Port Moody, BC) :  leads in steals (1.9), sixth in minutes played (20.8),

Both of the games this weekend will be webcast on a pay-per-view basis on Canada West TV presented by Co-op by accessing: https://cw.yaretv.com/.  

James Matthews will handle the play by play duties of both games this weekend. His analyst will be former WolfPack guard Vince Watson. CFJC TV's Dylana Milobar will be the in game host.
 
COMMENTS OF WOLFPACK COACH GORAN NOGIC (1^ST YEAR):
https://twitter.com/GoTRUWolfPack/status/1222702019997122560 
 
COMMENTS OF EMMA PIGGIN (5^TH YEAR, GUARD, KAMLOOPS, BC):
https://twitter.com/GoTRUWolfPack/status/1222701863658635264
 
COMMENTS OF LEILANI CARNEY (5^TH YEAR, GUARD, BURNABY, BC):
https://twitter.com/GoTRUWolfPack/status/1222701662277488641