Written By Kimberly Moser- UCFV Sports Information and Marketing Coordinator

ABBOTSFORD, B.C. – UCFV’s Samantha Hill (Abbotsford, B.C.) exploded for
21 points in the second half as the Cascades downed Manitoba, 72-69, at
the Envision Athletic Centre on Saturday night.

Hill hit the go-ahead bucket with 20 seconds remaining in the game as
the Cascades held off a feisty Bisons squad who battled back from a
10-point deficit midway through the fourth quarter.

Hill and fellow forward Heather Boer (Agassi, B.C.) were the difference
for UCFV as Manitoba was unable to stop their presence inside. Hill
finished with 21 points, all of them coming in the second half after she
picked up two early fouls.

While Hill was the go-to player inside for the Cascades in the second
half, Boer had the hot hand early. The third-year starter colllected 16
points in the game’s opening 20 minutes, posting a double-double at
halftime thanks to 12 rebounds.

“We wanted to put pressure on their (Manitoba’s) size and see if we
could get Heather (Boer) and Sam (Hill) some touches,” said UCFV head
coach Al Tuchscherer. “I didn’t think we did that early, but as the game
went on, Heather really established herself in the first half and then
Sam picked it up from there in the second half.”

Boer finished with a season-high 24 points and 14 rebounds. Teammate
Olivia Hunt (Surry, B.C.) also tallied double-digits on the night with
11 points.

For Manitoba, Melanie Schlichter (Winnipeg, Man.) had a team-high 20
points, while Tessa Klassen (Winnipeg, Man.) and Kayla Klassen
(Winnipeg, Man.) added 17 and 12 points, respectively.

UCFV led 13-10 after the first quarter and built up a nine-point
advantage at the break, 30-21. Despite Hill’s 10 points in the third
quarter, the Cascades led by just four after 30 minutes as the Bisons
continued to fight.

Trailing 66-56 with 5:37 left in the game, Schlichter hit a pair of free
throws and a three-pointer to close the gap to five. Another Manitoba
long-ball combined with solid free throw shooting down the stretch
pulled the Bisons even, 69-69, with 38 seconds remaining.

Hill’s final bucket was the dagger for Manitoba as it gave the Cascades
a two-point lead with 20 second left. Boer hit one of two free throws in
the dying seconds to seal it for the home side.

With the win, UCFV evens its record at 9-9, while the Bisons fall to
6-10.