January 19 - 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.

With nine wins on the season, the Cascades match their win total from all of last season – their first in the CIS – and pull to within two points of Victoria (10-7) for third place in Canada West’s Pacific division.

The Bison return home to face Brandon January 25 & 26. Game time on both Friday and Saturday nights is 6:15 pm at the Investors Group Athletic Centre.