VANCOUVER - The UBC Thunderbirds (10-8) fell just short in their comeback bid against the University of the Fraser Valley Cascades (13-5) losing 73-65 Saturday afternoon at War Memorial Gym. The T-Birds dominated the glass, but committed 29 turnovers leading directly to 24 Cascades' points.

"We played hard again, just another game with one bad quarter," said UBC head coach Erin McAleenan, referring to the team's offensive struggle in the third frame. "Tough to win games when you only score eight points in one quarter and put them on the free throw line 20 times. I thought we also had too many unforced turnovers. Miraculously we still took the same number of shots as they did, probably because of our offensive rebounding. It's just tough when you're playing from down. As per usual we didn't give up and we were right there."

For the second day in a row the T-Birds overcame a large fourth quarter deficit to bring the game to within six points in the final minute. Sophia Bergman led UBC in scoring with a season-high 15 points. Olivia Weekes tallied a double double for the 'Birds with 12 points and 15 rebounds. UBC's Azalya Forstbauer also set a new season high in scoring with 12 points, 10 of those coming in the fourth quarter. Forstbauer was honoured after the game as the team's lone graduating senior and drew effusive praise from her head coach.



"Awesome for Azalya to have a great Senior Night game, hitting some big shots, especially in the fourth quarter," said McAleenan. "She's one of our best defenders and when she communicates in behind our defense everyone is that much more aggressive. She's been super steady for us as our best post defender over the last two years and that quiet sniper who knocks down a lot of shots."

UFV's Maddy Gobeil did it all for the Cascades, leading her team in most major statistical categories by putting up 21 points, six rebounds, four assists and five steals. Nikki Cabuco chipped in 18 points for UFV by knocking down a game-high four threes.



Both teams struggled to find their rhythm early in the first quarter, each committing a number of unforced turnovers. UBC was dominating the glass, picking up six offensive rebounds in the frame and allowing none. However, efficient shooting from UFV gave them an 18-15 lead going into the first break, as they hit over 50% of their shots from the field.
 

WBB | @UBCWBBall trails UFV Women's Basketball 39-38 at the half. #GoBirdsGo pic.twitter.com/7LGRITpMZE

— UBC Thunderbirds (@ubctbirds) February 5, 2023

The offense picked up for both teams in the second quarter. Gobeil put up nine points in the frame for the Cascades, while T-Birds guard Hailey Counsell drained both of her three-point attempts. When the horn for halftime sounded each team had tallied over 20 points in the quarter, but it was UFV still holding a 39-38 lead.
  
The third quarter saw the Cascades clamp down defensively, holding UBC to just eight points. UFV had five steals, including two from Gobeil, as the 'Birds turned it over eight times.
 

WBB | @UBCWBBall graduating senior Azalya Forstbauer on her time as a T-Bird and the strides she's seen the program make pic.twitter.com/M6Fn29qKcc

— UBC Thunderbirds (@ubctbirds) February 5, 2023

In the fourth quarter, UBC found its offensive stride once again behind an impressive effort from Forstbauer. Her 10 points in the frame were more than she had scored in any game all season, as she stroked jumper after jumper from the midrange. The 'Birds cut what was a double-digit deficit for most of the quarter down to six in the final minute, but that was as close as they came.



UBC finishes its regular season with a home and home against the University of Victoria Vikes, beginning Thursday February, 9th at 5:00 p.m. (PT) at War Memorial Gym. UFV wraps up its regular season hosting the first place Saskatchewan Huskies, with their next game set for 6:00 p.m. Friday February, 10^th at the UFV Athletic Centre in Abbotsford.