The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack saw a nine point half time lead evaporate and wound up falling 91-76 to the visiting University of the Fraser Valley Cascades 91-75 in Canada West women's basketball play Saturday night (Feb 1).

The loss was the WolfPack's fourth in a row (7-11) while UFV has won their last nine (14-4).

The Cascades led by two after the first quarter but trailed 51-42 at recess.

This was "Senior's Night" at the Tournament Capital Centre and all three fifth year players played prominent roles.   UFV's Taylor Claggett (forward, Mission, BC) was held off the scoresheet in the first half but wound up scoring 19 points in the second half and led her team in scoring along with rookie Nikki Cabuco (guard, Port Moody, BC). 

Claggett's efforts propelled her into first place in the Canada West in points per game (19.7) and rebounds per game (10.4).

 Other players in double figures for Fraser Valley were Kamloops native Maddy Gobiel (1^st year, guard) and her roommate Deanna Tuchscherer (1^st year, forward, Chilliwack, BC) with 14 points.  Amanda Thompson (4^th year, guard, Abbotsford, BC) had 11.

Thompson Rivers was led by Emma Piggin (5^th year, guard, Kamloops, BC) with 19 points. Leilani Carney (5^th year, guard, Burnaby, BC) had 16 points.   Jordin Wilkinson (4^th year, forward, North Battleford, SK) had 17 points while Jordon Haggerty (3^rd year, guard, Saskatoon, SK) also had 16 points.
 
SYNOPSIS:

The Cascades jumped out to an early 4-0 lead before the Pack closed the gap thanks to eight points by  Wilkinson. She had 11 points to lead all scorers in the opening quarter.  Back to back buckets by Tuchscherer gave UFV a 12-8 lead. Tuchscherer led UFV with 8 points in the first period. But three baskets including a buzzer beater by Haggerty   left Thompson Rivers down 25-23 after the opening 10 minutes of play.

In the second quarter, the WolfPack drew even at 34 thanks to a pair of three pointers from Piggin halfway through the period. The WolfPack started to sink their shots while the Cascades went cold. Two key baskets by the other fifth year WolfPack player— Carney enlarged TRU's lead to 41-34 with five minutes left in the half.  TRU opened up a 10 point advantage on a three pointer from Megan Rouault (3^rd year, guard, Vernon, BC) making it 44-34 with 3:43 remaining.  Their lead at the half was nine (51-42) as three players: Carney, Wilkinson and Piggin all had 12 points. Haggerty had 10.   UFV was led by Cabuco  who had 10 points-eight in that second period.

Claggett scored her first basket 3:20 into the third quarter to cut the deficit to 56-45 and before the quarter was over, the Cascades had cut the gap to one as Gobeil  blew past a defender with 5 minutes left to make it (56-55) . They took the lead 63-62 with less than two minutes remaining and Claggett's second effort to the basket with a minute left gave them a 65-62 advantage by the end of the period.  She had nine in the period for the Cascades.   Wilkinson drained a three with 0:04 left and the teams were tied at 65 going into the fourth quarter.

The Cascades opened up a seven-point lead to begin the fourth. The Pack suffered a major blow when Piggin fouled out with five minutes left to play and her team down by four (78-74).  TRU came up with a couple of key stops but trailed by nine (95-76) with 2:30 remaining.  Claggett put up a long deuce with 1:56 left to enlarge their lead to 88-76.  Carney was taken off the court with a minute left to the applause of the large crowd at the TCC thanking her for her five years.  

This was alumni weekend with former players from the Cariboo College Gold Rush, University College of the Cariboo Sun Demons and the WolfPack being honored and celebrated.
After Saturday's game, the current edition of the team honored their two fifth year players: Piggin and  Carney while recognizing Claggett as well.
 
HIGHLIGHTS:
https://youtu.be/UCP7Zlmi_14
 
THEY SAID IT!
WolfPack head coach Goran Nogic (1 st year):
 https://twitter.com/GoTRUWolfPack/status/1223852839757172737 
 
 
WolfPack guard Emma Piggin (5^th year,Kamloops, BC):
https://twitter.com/GoTRUWolfPack/status/1223852761407578119 
 
WolfPack guard Leilani Carney (5^th year, Burnaby, BC):
https://twitter.com/GoTRUWolfPack/status/1223852783419322369

Fraser Valley head coach Al Tuerscherer (18 th year):
https://twitter.com/GoTRUWolfPack/status/1223852814385827840 
 
NEXT UP:
The WolfPack will close out the 2019-20 Canada West regular season the following weekend (Feb 7-8) in Lethbridge against the Pronghorns.  The Cascades will finish at home against the University of Regina Cougars.